Negative and Positive Sides

Anything that exists has both negative and positive sides of it. What we have to look at however, is if the positive side outweighs the negative side of it. Most of the time people are blind to the positive side and only look at the negative side of things. This is also similar when it comes to hip hop and rap music. Hip hop has it negative side and the positive sides as well. One of the main negative issues associated with hip hop and drugs is usually the issue of its influence on and the promotion of drug use. Drugs are usually the main topic that is discussed in most of the hip hop songs and rap music. Marijuana for one is one of the main things that is discussed and sung of in many hip hop and rap music. Cocaine, another drug is also one topic that has been sung of by hip hop artists and rappers. Cocaine for example has been affiliated with rap since the year 1983. Since then, there has been a ton of rap songs that have actually promoted drug use. For example the song, â€Å"Young, Wild, and Free† by Wiz Khalifa is one that promotes the use of drugs. This can be a very bad influence on its target, that is, the teenage fan base. This is also an awful way to market ones music since it make it seem okay to use drugs and alcohol. Sadly though, the most people affected by this message are the teenagers who are the largest percentage of our population that listens to this kind of music. This can influence them to join the drug abused and even start the use of alcohol. Some other drugs that are mentioned in these songs include mushrooms, hash, purple pills and heroine most of which can be very harmful to the health of a person.Another negative side of hip hop music is that it has an influence on the sex lives of the youths. Nowadays, a lot of hip hop and rap music videos have a lot of sexual scenes in them. This in turn has an influence on the sexual decision that the youths make whenever they watch these videos. They tend to think that it is okay to intimate with whoever they want to despite the number of people. This has led to an increase in the risk of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Hip hop and rap music sometimes also promotes violence especially among teenagers. Hip hop music are mostly full of lyrics that depict people who break the law as cool and classy people. Rap music also has a negative view toward the police and the authorities. Most of the time their lyrics are full of hate for the police and have praise for people who go to jail in the name of their hate towards the police. This has an influence on the teenagers who may be tempted to think that escaping from the police and breaking the law is the new â€Å"cool† in town. Most of them may end up being killed or being jailed for petty crimes they see as cool. On the other hand though, hip hop has a lot of good and positive sides as well. First of all hip hop and rap music is unifier and an education channel. Hip hop stared as a subculture among the African Americans but has now become a global culture. As a matter of fact seventy five percent of the people listening to hip hop music are non-blacks. Hip hop has been able to unify millions of youths across the world. Nowadays due to hip hop, there has been the rise of street style dressing that has been depicted form the hip hop artists. This style of dressing has been adapted by the youths who are given a sense of identity by theses fashion trends. Hip hop and rap music has also been very vital in the promotion of political and social awareness. Rap music educates people on very many diverse perspectives and has been used to raise a lot of social issues. Rap has been used as a means for people to use to freely speak concerning their opinions on social and political issues. Through this, it engages the youths into becoming aware and concerned of their opinions and issues. This is very vital in enlightening the youth on the world they live in and the challenges that they are faced with in society and how they can change the situation for the better. One issue that hip hop and rap has helped to create awareness is the issue of racial discrimination and the importance of believing in one's dreams.Another positive side of rap is that it gives hope to the people who listen to it. Many rappers rap about poverty and the struggles they went through in their upbringing. When they become successful, they share their stories about beating obstacles and struggling to reach the top. This can give a lot of teenagers hope and can challenge them to strive to be the best. This is because if the rapper could make it, they too can. Through understanding and education, rap music has been a tool to spur social awareness in many communities. Rap music has been used to speak against violence and guns among other aspects of life. Most artists communicate a message of peace and anti-violence in their songs. Rappers like the late Tupac Shakur were most of the time criticized for painting a bleak picture of the urban America through their music. However, such lyrics usually brought awareness to the social problems faced by the country, particularly in the inner city. It is crystal clear that hip hop and rap music serves a greater purpose in society. It does more good than harm. Hip hop has been mechanism that gives a voice to the voiceless. It has become a tool to shape the youths on how to tackle the challenges and obstacles they meet in their lives. Hip hop has also been a toll to unite people from the many walks of life. Hip hop is more than just music. It is a culture that unites the world; it gives an identity to those who feel like they don't have one. Above all, it is good entertainment. Hip hop is thus very much relevant and useful to the society of today.