Why Does Hip Hop Have A Bad Reputation?

Hip hop is one of the most popular and widely-used forms of music today. It has been around for over four decades and is liked by both young and old. Despite this popularity, why does hip hop have a bad reputation? 

In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind hip hop’s poor reputation and try to provide a more balanced perspective on the genre. We’ll also discuss whether or not it deserves such a negative reputation and what we can do to change things.

 

Why Do Rappers Swear So Much?

 

Distinguishing Hip Hop Vs. Rap Music

Before I get into the article, I want it to be clear that there is a distinction between hip hop and rap. I often hear people use them interchangeably, and they shouldn’t. Hip Hop and rap are separate things – one is something you live while the other is something you do.

For those that don’t know, hip hop is a culture, and rap is an element of that culture. Hip hop is a culture that has four elements – rapping (emceeing), break dancing, djing, and graffiti.

Hip Hop is the lifestyle that people within the culture live every day. The clothing, slang, rap music, cultural art, poetry, positivity, teaching the youth to be peaceful, etc. At its core, this is the essence of hip hop. Knowing this, why does hip hop have a bad reputation would be the wrong question.

Rap is the music under the hip-hop umbrella. Some of the rap music is violent, misogynistic, braggadocio, and promotes hate and vileness. When examining rap music, we need to state – that not all of it is degrading. There is rap music that has lyrics that are clean and uplifting. 

Some rap music is socially conscious and promotes health, wellness, education, entrepreneurship, and positivity. Most people who talk about rap think that all of it is violent. It’s unfair to say that because it’s untrue.

 

Why Rappers Are Obsessed With Hennessy

   

Why Does Hip Hop Have A Bad Reputation?

We’ve just established what hip hop is – a more appropriate question would be – why does rap music have a bad reputation? 

The violence in rap music began in the mid 1980s with a rapper from Philadelphia named Schoolly D. He rapped about guns, killing, selling drugs, and making illegal money. Rap music use to be about having fun, dancing, and partying – Schoolly D. introduced gangster rap to the world. Gangster rap was shocking, vulgar, and promoted crime – but people loved it.

In today’s world, rap music that promotes violence is called trap music or drill music. It’s hardcore rap music riddled with crime and violence.

If people didn’t enjoy trap music, and if record labels were not putting money behind promoting it, it wouldn’t have survived for this long. If we are going to examine the violence and hate within some rap music then we need to examine the consumers who purchase this type of music.

We have to assume that by purchasing trap music the consumer is condoning the negative music created by the artist. In other words, the rap artist doesn’t see anything wrong with creating songs about selling drugs and killing others since he’s making money doing so.

What if people stop buying violent rap music? Do you think rappers would stop rapping about it since it’s no longer profitable for them to do so? It’s a question you can think about and one I can write a post about another time.

 

Reasons Why Rappers Drink Lean

   

Two Types Of Trap Rappers

A lot of people who listen to trap music don’t know that there are two types of trap rappers. Again, trap music is this generations term for gangster music. The first type of trap rapper is the pretender.

He raps about selling drugs, being violent, having opps (enemies), and committing fraud, when in reality he’s not doing any of this. He’s pretending to be tough because he knows that some fans will buy into it.

All he’s doing is selling you an image which you think fits a typical hardcore rapper. This type of trap rapper doesn’t have a criminal record or gets into any trouble, but his objective is to sell you the persona of a real criminal so he can sell records and make money. He does trap music for entertainment and that’s how it should be seen.

The second type of trap music artist is the real deal. He has committed crimes in the past, is on probation, and is apart of a gang. Police and FBI agents that deal with such rappers have proven this to be true. There have been many cases where the FBI or police have launched investigations on these type of rappers, and within a couple of months arrest them due to their involvement with gang activities.

 

Some cases that come to mind involve:

• Tekashi 69 and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods
• Bobby Schmurda and the GS9/G-Stone Crips (GSC)
• Casanova 2X and the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation, which are Crips & Bloods

 

The list of rappers that are associated with gangs is long, and they’re all being watched by police and the FBI. The connection to gangs and gang activity – and the promotion of it within rap is what gives rap music a bad name. So long as this persists the harsh criticism of rap music will continue. Later in this article I will come up with solutions we can all implement that may help reduce the creation of trap music.

 

Talented rappers Who Freestyle Their Songs

 

 

Does Rap Music Affect Behavior?

Yes, rap music does have an affect on behavior. In fact, all music can affect ones mood and behavior, whether good or bad. Pertaining to the violent rap music, a study by the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Berkeley, Calif., suggests young people who listen to rap music are more likely to abuse alcohol and commit violent acts.

Further more, The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology says that listening to violent rap music increase negative emotions and thoughts, and may lead to aggression. Researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Service, conducted their own studies which produced the same findings.

 

15 Violent Rap Songs

• Schooly D – PSK (What Does It Mean?)
• N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
• Mobb Deep – Shook Ones
• 50 Cent – What Up Gangsta
• Snoop Dogg – Murda Was The Case
• 2 Pac – Hit ‘Em Up
• Notorious B.I.G. – Warning
• Chief Keep – Bang
• KRS-ONE – 9mm Goes Bang
• Pop Smoke – Meet The Woo
• Tee Grizzley -First Day Out
• YNW Melly – Murder On My Mind
• 22Gz – Blicky Da Blicky
• Sheff G. – No Suburban
• CoachDaGhost – Gooey Sauce

 

Here’s How Rappers Record Music In Jail

   

Addressing The Core Issue

Despite what you may think the negativity in some rap music is a societal problem. The saying is true that art imitates life. The rappers are rapping about what they’ve witnessed and experienced within their environment.

They also talk about the injustices they face as black men and women in this society, and that is a real issue that needs to be addressed.

Violence, hate, and crime are not exclusive to rappers and the black community – it’s something that affects all races and communities around the world. We have to do better with addressing the crime within all of our communities in order to make it more productive, livable, economically sound, and sustainable for future generations.

 

Rappers Who Write Lyrics Before Hearing A Beat

 

 

How To Help Promote Positive Rap Music

If you find that you really hate violent rap music the best option is to not listen to it. If more people take a stance and choose not to purchase the albums, merchandise, or concert tickets, then rappers will be forced to switch up their content.

One thing that will definitely make a person change is if their livelihood is effected by their behavior and words. They learn real quick not to make the same mistake. Rappers who make trap music will be have no choice but to stop making trap music because it’s no longer profitable.

The second option, which I think would make a bigger impact, would be to support more of the positive rap music. You often hear about people complaining about the negative aspects of rap music, but they don’t support any positive rap music. That in of itself is a major problem.

In order for more rappers to rap about positivity their needs to be more support for it. This includes support from radio, podcasts, Youtube, and other platforms that showcase music. Support being shown to rappers with positive music will make room for more to be created.

Again, this is not an issue that should be entirely left for rappers to fix. This is a societal issue and we all need to do our part to help clean up the ills of our neighborhoods.

 

Written By: Jerome Kyng