If rappers never talked about violence or drugs. Would the Hood be different?

[Dr. Truth]

Do you think the youth would be acting like they been acting like this with all the gang and thug shit and opps talk? If there was no negative hiphop and everything was like ATCQ , public enemy or Xclan etc how different do you think shit would be? Would it matter?

 

[YoungSinister]

No
They’re simply talking about what goes on in their environment. Shit that was happening before hip hop got to this point

 

[55th View]

If the news stopped reporting crime, would it cease to exist?

Exactly...same logic!

 

[Dr. Truth]

So y’all don’t think crime would be lower. Of course it’s still there but you honestly don’t think some of the music contributes to influencing people? Look at Ja Morant

 

[^SpiderMan^]

Things would definitely improve.

 

[tallblacknyc]

Did slavery happen cause of music?

Did the euros wipe out the native Americans cause of music?

Did america drop 2 atomic bombs on Japan cause of music?

There’s always been bad people doing negative shit to people with zero influences from music

 

[Dr. Truth]

Did slavery happen cause of music?

Did the euros wipe out the native Americans cause of music?

Did america drop 2 atomic bombs on Japan cause of music?

There’s always been bad people doing negative shit to people with zero influences from music

What? I’m asking if hiphop was always positive rather than what it’s turned into would the crime rate in our communities be lower.

 

[tallblacknyc]

What? I’m asking if hiphop was always positive rather than what it’s turned into would the crime rate in our communities be lower.

The poverty, the drugs, police brutality, shitty schools, racism didn’t start because of music. Would it be lower who knows. But it wasn’t the start or continuation of the negative shit in our communities.. white people were doing the twist a non violent songs back in the day and they still was racist as fuck and terrorizing black people. So even positive music didn’t stop the monsters that exist in humanity

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

No way
They're not making up movies they're talking about what they see.


If the USA wouldn't dump guns and drugs in the neighborhood they wouldn't rap about it

 

[tallblacknyc]

The poverty, the drugs, police brutality, shitty schools, racism didn’t start because of music. Would it be lower who knows. But it wasn’t the start or continuation of the negative shit in our communities.. white people were doing the twist a non violent songs back in the day and they still was racist as fuck and terrorizing black people. So even positive music didn’t stop the monsters that exist in humanity

This the music they heard in the 60s



Yet black people houses were getting firebombed, terrorized by cops, kkk members burning crosses and killing black people

 

[Dr. Truth]

Q tip asked this question once and I’m curious what y’all’s responses are.

 

[illlit]

Let me be the one to add perspective since I have 20 plus years working within the music industry.

Yes, the BLK community would be different. How do I know this?

Well first, it's a big difference between talking about it vs glorifying it. The difference is '80s and '90s raps talked about it, but not so much glorifying it but giving all sides, via death and jail. They didn't try to make it seem cool and popular as if you need to do what they're doing. They told stories.

Today's rap it's a popularity contest about who has the most hitters in their crew and who can kill the most. It's cool to be a crip or a blood, GD or BD. It's cool to glorify the gang that you're in. It's cool to cause destruction to kill your ops, oh and did I mention that somehow all the "OPs" just so happens to to be BLK?

We need contexts when we're speaking on these facts about rap music. Today, rap music is detrimental to black society because 90% of it, is all about the destruction of self.
Rap in the '90s and '80s was not about the destruction of self, it was a looking-glass into what was going on in various communities. There was also a variety of different raps songs to balance that out. So you can hear KRS-One and NWA along with the ghetto boys and a Tribe Called Quest in your music count down or playlist. Today all Rap count downs are 10 straight songs of self destructive, deplorable acts of violence and self degregation.

How do I also know that our community would be different if rap music with themes of gangsterism wasn't played we would be better off? Because Whity wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars investing in making sure that trap, drill and gangsta music is the only music that's played on the radio 24 hours a day, in all forms of media.That is how you know the difference.

 

[Hey Julian!]

I used to say no because i grew up on gangsta rap and turned out fine but at 42 and now seeing a new generation that never experienced anything but I’m seeing it different. When you have good parents in the household to reel in dumb thinking and bring you back to reality the music can be understood as art. For the kids that don’t have good parents/role models then the same music becomes the teacher. It’s 100% taken the culture a step back.

 

[Mr.Mojo]

Gangster rap/Thug/trap music got kids from other races/cultures who were not poor or deprived of opportunities acting a damn fool.how could it not influence the youth of where it sprung up from?

Kids look up to musical artists and want to copy what they and their peers think is cool.From clothes,to slang to getting high to selling drugs to holding heat to Killin an op.violent lyrics ,imagery and a hot beat can and does influence people to mimick what they see with no regards for the consequences.

 

[CptMARVEL]

Wow.
So, we're actually doing the work of FOX News around here now...?

Charming...

I mean; seriously, this motherfucker literally bit the head off a bat live onstage...

... and yet, NO ONE questions whether or not that contributes to the sharp increase in mass shootings committed by White men.
​

 

[illlit]

Wow.
So, we're actually doing the work of FOX News now...?

Charming... ​

A bunch of white people with no experience living in a black neighborhood or even being black is not equivalent to Black people that understand the dynamics of what we consume all day everyday. That's apple and oranges.
Remember, the people funding the music that glorifies our death, made our women believe calling themselves bitch is some how endearing and empowering. And made a BLK man view another black man as ops is cool. Just so happens to be white.

 

[CptMARVEL]

A bunch of white people with no experience living in a black neighborhood or even being black is not equivalent to Black people that understand the dynamics of what we consume all day everyday. That's apple and oranges.
Remember, the people funding the music that glorifies our death, made our women believe calling themselves bitch is some how endearing and empowering. And made a BLK man view another black man as ops is cool. Just so happens to be white.

Uh, huh.
Right.
Please post the song, rhyme or lyric that incited you (personally) to go out and kill another Black man.
- Sell drugs.
- Call women bitches.
- Be an absentee father.
- Degrade or destroy your neighborhood.

Or...
Is it about you & your own personal choices in life regardless of the music you listen to...?

'Cuz I guarantee you this motherfucker didn't listen to rap or hiphop a day in his life, and yet he STILL went out and specifically murdered Black people.


Unlike the 99.99% of Black people in America who listen to and consume Rap & HipHip on a daily basis and yet, who never act violently...
​

 

[mcguyver]

So y’all don’t think crime would be lower. Of course it’s still there but you honestly don’t think some of the music contributes to influencing people? Look at Ja Morant

Yes it would be lower.

 

[footloose]

I don’t know let me think back

I guess it depends on what city you talking about

 

[RUDY RAYYY MO]

Music isn't the issue. The 80s crack epidemic is the cause of violence

 

[playahaitian]

Let me be the one to add perspective since I have 20 plus years working within the music industry.

Yes, the BLK community would be different. How do I know this?

Well first, it's a big difference between talking about it vs glorifying it. The difference is '80s and '90s raps talked about it, but not so much glorifying it but giving all sides, via death and jail. They didn't try to make it seem cool and popular as if you need to do what they're doing. They told stories.

Today's rap it's a popularity contest about who has the most hitters in their crew and who can kill the most. It's cool to be a crip or a blood, GD or BD. It's cool to glorify the gang that you're in. It's cool to cause destruction to kill your ops, oh and did I mention that somehow all the "OPs" just so happens to to be BLK?

We need contexts when we're speaking on these facts about rap music. Today, rap music is detrimental to black society because 90% of it, is all about the destruction of self.
Rap in the '90s and '80s was not about the destruction of self, it was a looking-glass into what was going on in various communities. There was also a variety of different raps songs to balance that out. So you can hear KRS-One and NWA along with the ghetto boys and a Tribe Called Quest in your music count down or playlist. Today all Rap count downs are 10 straight songs of self destructive, deplorable acts of violence and self degregation.

How do I also know that our community would be different if rap music with themes of gangsterism wasn't played we would be better off? Because Whity wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars investing in making sure that trap, drill and gangsta music is the only music that's played on the radio 24 hours a day, in all forms of media.That is how you know the difference.

You should publish this as a long form essay and get some quotes from other artists musicians producers executives etc...

And later a book or podcast on this topic

Serious

 

[playahaitian]

No way
They're not making up movies they're talking about what they see.


If the USA wouldn't dump guns and drugs in the neighborhood they wouldn't rap about it

Agreed

 

[playahaitian]

I think positive always helps

But we cannot say that the music can influence negatively without proof that when there WAS more "positive" music -

crime was down?

And movies play part all media actually plus household and neighborhood etc

I think we do and did need more BALANCE.

Because whether or not gangsta rap existed or not?

The conditions that help created it did.

For a long time and continues to do so.

 

[ZuluSam]

No
They’re simply talking about what goes on in their environment. Shit that was happening before hip hop got to this point

It started out that way, but it has evolved into life imitating art.... It is simple. Kids want money and fame. Rapper raps about killing and slanging is how to get money and fame. Kids kill and slang.
That's advertising 101.

Do you think a rapper can sing about drinking Alize and more Black folk drink Alize.. Hennessey or wear certain clothes. Of course what is sung in music influences people's conduct. Music is advertising and marketing.....the question is what are they advertising and marketing?

So y’all don’t think crime would be lower. Of course it’s still there but you honestly don’t think some of the music contributes to influencing people? Look at Ja Morant

Let me be the one to add perspective since I have 20 plus years working within the music industry.

Yes, the BLK community would be different. How do I know this?

Well first, it's a big difference between talking about it vs glorifying it. The difference is '80s and '90s raps talked about it, but not so much glorifying it but giving all sides, via death and jail. They didn't try to make it seem cool and popular as if you need to do what they're doing. They told stories.

Today's rap it's a popularity contest about who has the most hitters in their crew and who can kill the most. It's cool to be a crip or a blood, GD or BD. It's cool to glorify the gang that you're in. It's cool to cause destruction to kill your ops, oh and did I mention that somehow all the "OPs" just so happens to to be BLK?

We need contexts when we're speaking on these facts about rap music. Today, rap music is detrimental to black society because 90% of it, is all about the destruction of self.
Rap in the '90s and '80s was not about the destruction of self, it was a looking-glass into what was going on in various communities. There was also a variety of different raps songs to balance that out. So you can hear KRS-One and NWA along with the ghetto boys and a Tribe Called Quest in your music count down or playlist. Today all Rap count downs are 10 straight songs of self destructive, deplorable acts of violence and self degregation.

How do I also know that our community would be different if rap music with themes of gangsterism wasn't played we would be better off? Because Whity wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars investing in making sure that trap, drill and gangsta music is the only music that's played on the radio 24 hours a day, in all forms of media.That is how you know the difference.

They. Will. Not. Hear. You.

 

[JustChillin]

Let me be the one to add perspective since I have 20 plus years working within the music industry.

Yes, the BLK community would be different. How do I know this?

Well first, it's a big difference between talking about it vs glorifying it. The difference is '80s and '90s raps talked about it, but not so much glorifying it but giving all sides, via death and jail. They didn't try to make it seem cool and popular as if you need to do what they're doing. They told stories.

Today's rap it's a popularity contest about who has the most hitters in their crew and who can kill the most. It's cool to be a crip or a blood, GD or BD. It's cool to glorify the gang that you're in. It's cool to cause destruction to kill your ops, oh and did I mention that somehow all the "OPs" just so happens to to be BLK?

We need contexts when we're speaking on these facts about rap music. Today, rap music is detrimental to black society because 90% of it, is all about the destruction of self.
Rap in the '90s and '80s was not about the destruction of self, it was a looking-glass into what was going on in various communities. There was also a variety of different raps songs to balance that out. So you can hear KRS-One and NWA along with the ghetto boys and a Tribe Called Quest in your music count down or playlist. Today all Rap count downs are 10 straight songs of self destructive, deplorable acts of violence and self degregation.

How do I also know that our community would be different if rap music with themes of gangsterism wasn't played we would be better off? Because Whity wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars investing in making sure that trap, drill and gangsta music is the only music that's played on the radio 24 hours a day, in all forms of media.That is how you know the difference.

Nailed it.

/thread

 

[Supersav]

Poverty and unemployment are the real issues. Not music.

 

[slewdem100]

Probably be less extra shit so crime would be lower but the hood would not be much different because the same fundamentals that created it remain in place...it certainly wouldnt hurt if the music were different and gangs would not be quite as popular as they are today though whether or not the presence of semi organized gangs affects the overall crime rate is questionable...cities with neighborhood crews can be just as violent as organized gang cities....its clear that the music is pushing gang culture

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Jews invent mainstream rap

 

[zod16]

Let me be the one to add perspective since I have 20 plus years working within the music industry.

Yes, the BLK community would be different. How do I know this?

Well first, it's a big difference between talking about it vs glorifying it. The difference is '80s and '90s raps talked about it, but not so much glorifying it but giving all sides, via death and jail. They didn't try to make it seem cool and popular as if you need to do what they're doing. They told stories.

Today's rap it's a popularity contest about who has the most hitters in their crew and who can kill the most. It's cool to be a crip or a blood, GD or BD. It's cool to glorify the gang that you're in. It's cool to cause destruction to kill your ops, oh and did I mention that somehow all the "OPs" just so happens to to be BLK?

We need contexts when we're speaking on these facts about rap music. Today, rap music is detrimental to black society because 90% of it, is all about the destruction of self.
Rap in the '90s and '80s was not about the destruction of self, it was a looking-glass into what was going on in various communities. There was also a variety of different raps songs to balance that out. So you can hear KRS-One and NWA along with the ghetto boys and a Tribe Called Quest in your music count down or playlist. Today all Rap count downs are 10 straight songs of self destructive, deplorable acts of violence and self degregation.

How do I also know that our community would be different if rap music with themes of gangsterism wasn't played we would be better off? Because Whity wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars investing in making sure that trap, drill and gangsta music is the only music that's played on the radio 24 hours a day, in all forms of media.That is how you know the difference.

I had an epiphany moment about this shit when I was a teenager and I realized my "uncensored" CDs had explicit lyrics about rape, murder, necrophilia even but the words cracker/jew/kike were bleeped out. Music didn't cause the chaos but it sure as hell has been a force multiplier for it.

 

[KunningLinguist]

anyone who says that music isnt influential is delusional....

would crime stop if it wasnt around...no....but to think it doesnt play a role is crazy

 

[^SpiderMan^]

It would. Rap ingrains negative perceptions of how we see ourselves. I’m surprised by the posts describing the lyrics as “what they see” in the hood because most of it is heavily embellished and from the angle of violence.

I see kids and adults shape their vernacular, posture, clothing choices, and perceptions from rap music.

IMO the biggest barrier to Black progress is the negative perceptions and low expectations we have of ourselves. A lot of immigrated communities have been having better outcomes despite coming from worse conditions.

 

[4 Dimensional]

There is definitely influence.

 

[4 Dimensional]

I had an epiphany moment about this shit when I was a teenager and I realized my "uncensored" CDs had explicit lyrics about rape, murder, necrophilia even but the words cracker/jew/kike were bleeped out. Music didn't cause the chaos but it sure as hell has been a force multiplier for it.

It reinforces certain things.

Ain’t no different than the music played in church when collection plates are passed or people catching the Holy Ghost.

Calling women bitches and hoes in music, then they dancing to it. I remember I ask these girls in high school why they dance to music that degrades them and they said they just like dancing to the beat. And I’m like “sure you do.”

 

[Duece]

I had an epiphany moment about this shit when I was a teenager and I realized my "uncensored" CDs had explicit lyrics about rape, murder, necrophilia even but the words cracker/jew/kike were bleeped out. Music didn't cause the chaos but it sure as hell has been a force multiplier for it.

 

[LordSinister]

I was in the industry for 20 plus years and I can tell you the cacs that run it made sure to kill the positivity movement. Once artists couldn't have a career with a positive message, a lot switched to being gangster.