GANGSTA RAP
By Rowan
HISTORY
Gangsta rap was originally a West Coast phenomenon,
and first went mainstream in the 80's with the
group N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude) from Southern
California. Since then, members Eazy-E, Dr. Dre,
Ice Cube, and M.C. Ren have broken apart and
released their own music individually. Gangsta
rap has rapidly spread across the country and
probably around the world. Gangsta Rap has affected
no generation more directly than mine, as we have
come of age during the height of its popularity.
CONCERNS
Many people have expressed concern over Gangsta
rap's presumed effect on youth. Gangsta rap has been
shocking from its inception, with more cuss words
per sentence than a South Park episode and the
constant bragging about the ruthless murders a rapper
commits in his or her metaphorical rap world.
There are "parental advisory; explicit lyrics" labels,
which have graced most "hardcore" Gangsta rap songs,
but many parents and educators would like more at
their disposal to battle what they see as Gangsta
rap's harmful effects. In African American ghettos
there is fear that Gangsta rap is just one more thing
putting young black men in jail or in the cemetery.
THE DEFENSE
The usual defense rappers and rap fans have made
against accusations of immorality has been that
rappers are just expressing themselves, and that
Gangsta rap gives young black men a chance to make
money and avoid the street life, and that rappers are
helping ease crime by telling the world the horrors
of life in the ghetto. Of course there's the blanket
defense for all arts under fire that censorship is
wrong. I am also sure there are those who would
defend Gangsta rap by defending the Gangsta lifestyle,
saying it is a way of life that is hated mostly
because it is misunderstood.
Rappers say that it is just a reflection of real life.
CONCLUSION
I myself have listened to far more than my share of
Gangsta rap. It's hard to say how it's affected my
generation. It definitely seems to have affected our
dress code. As far as crime goes, most statistics show
crime decreasing steadily since the late 80's, which
could seem to support the idea that Gangsta rap has
actually helped by spreading an awareness of life in
the streets. Even for some of us who have listened to
and liked Gangsta rap, it has gotten more repetitive
and shallow, where once it was new and powerful. It
is always a curiosity for me, as I watch it change
and grow and affect the world around me.
