Yet, glorification of musical genres is not just limited to rap. There's nothing cool about being a punk rocker, IMO.
I think we can all agree that hipster douchebags who worship Pitchfork should be punched the trachea.
Rap isn't the problem. Rap's association with gangs/violence is probably intensifying the real problems.
I don't even think it's the association that's the problem. Who's the ones giving these assholes the money? Who are the ones signing them to contracts? Who are the ones playing their **** on the radio? Who are the people glorifying it so all these young kids without fathers aspire to what their role models are? young kids who have nothing are impressionable and they can easily be turned into drones see: middle east & suicide bombers There is a money system in place that cuts these checks. The impressionable kids [see lack of positive role models] fall in line to the game-the hustle flow. This same money system keeps drugs illegal to create the underground. Gotta fight crime then. Gotta order the guns and bullets & swat equipment. Gotta go to trial then. Gotta hire the attorneys who needed student loans and college professors to become attorneys. Gotta report and milk that dramatic trial and sell commercial spots. Gotta lock people up then. Gotta build out the prisons then. Gotta hire the bureaucracy to run it then so everyone can be safe. It creates jobs and economy but it creates unknowing and collateral victims and wasted lives. Sorta like extremist islam. They're just pawns.
Wasn't talking about the glorification of rap. Rather, I was talking about the glorification of ghetto/hood/gangsta lifestyle in rap. Kids grow up idolizing these rappers, reciting the lyrics. Everybody wants to be a rapper or a baller like Lebron James. How about Obama? Harvard and Yale, President of the USA.
That's my problem. When you say everybody or even the majority. You're simplifying the entire or most of the race of people and that should not be done. These kids right here defy such logic: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XEMsJPVego8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> There are plenty of other examples to go around. Kids grow up idolizing all sorts of entertainers and sports stars. How about a kid who grows up idolizing Ozzy Osbourne or Wayne Gretzky, why are they any different? There are kids that idolize Obama, the problem is, people make assumptions based off a very small sample of things that they actually see, which is the problem.
That's your problem.. I see, but do you have a problem with rap music glorifying ghetto/gangsta culture? Or are you going to divert the attention to other genres of music that also have little substance, while totally missing the point on the subject at hand? So there were problems in urban society before rap, and probably will exist after rap. So in your logic, rap has NO IMPACT whatsoever - things are the way they are, and the media, public figure role models have nothing to do with creating a culture among youths. And your supporting premises were that education increased since gangsta rap of the 90's, and other genres have the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Ozzy Ozbourne. Smh.. You basically just downplayed the impact on character development of young kids, that these powerful outside influences have (including music), particularly those ones without father figures or dependable role models present in their lives, which is another problem all together by the way. Here's Mrs. Obama talking about the exact same thing. http://www.yourblackworld.net/2013/...ck-kids-are-trying-to-be-ballers-and-rappers/ You're making this about race when my usage of "everybody" had more to do with urban or ghetto youths who maintain that particular subculture. There are ghetto youths of all races white, black, asian, hispanic who proliferate gang culture, etc. And yeah, alot of them want to be rappers and ballers too. Obviously black youths are included in that, but don't make this about race. I'm talking more so about a subculture, which so happens to be prevalent in alot of black youths, but not exclusive to only black youths. If you still don't see the distinction then sorry can't help you.
No, I don't have a problem with it because it is just entertainment. Ultimately, it is up to parents to set their kids on the right path and help distinguish between real life and fantasy. As stated, there is a lot of terrible entertainment out there and I rarely see anybody blame that entertainment on societal pitfalls the way rap is targeted. Not diverting anything, just bringing up other examples. Why is rap targeted but other genres not? We can't discuss other subjects because we are discussing rap? What is wrong with comparison? The impact is minimal, if any, is what I believe, it's just an easy target because it is so widespread and glorifies a culture that already exists yet few see or take part in. There are a lot more issues affecting "ghetto" youths than rap music and by focusing on rap you're taking away from those real issues. No they have nothing to do with creating a culture because it already exists, they just express said culture. If something is being glorified and said to have negative effects of the things I listed, education, crime, employment, don't positive shifts in those areas show that the impact may not be what others think it is? I don't see a problem with them idolizing a rapper because you can idolize somebody but not want to be them, it's not hand-in-hand. I idolized Olajuwon growing up but I didn't want to be a basketball player. Which was my point in bringing up those others. People can idolize whoever they want, it doesn't mean they want to be them. Again, I believe this impact is minimal if not non-existent. I agree, the parents and parenting is another discussion altogether. So Obama said it. Does that make it gospel? You're right, I may have misinterpreted what you said and if so I do apologize. Maybe the best thing to do is just let this thread die and save the discussion for another time.
Difference in cause and effect. "Gangsta" Rap is the effect of poverty, being surrounded by violence, etc. Not the cause of it. Pretty simple. People who put the blame or even part of the blame on music, regardless of genre are totally missing the issues at hand.
And gangsta rap can inspire more poverty, violence, etc. by glorifying the ghetto life. The difference between what you are saying and what I'm saying is, I say that rap is hurting the urban youth rather than helping them, in regards to encouraging them to get out of poverty and violent lifestyles.
Does gangsta rap inspire violence? Gang banging and getting locked up doesn't lead to generations of poverty, kids without a father, etc?
