of the past decade. While the music provides a voice to the voiceless and a form of

protest to the oppressed, much of it seems to articulate the rage of the urban underclass

and its sense of intense oppression and defiant rebellion. Rap, then, is not only music to

dance and party to, but is also a potent form of cultural identity and political expression.

Unfortunately, rap songs are usually accompanied by use of explicit and degrading lyrics,

which are very dangerous to the youth of today. While rappers will claim that they're

simply rapping about reality, all too often they use violence as the vehicle to tell the story

of their lives. This certainly does not set any good examples for the young boys and girls,

and men and women, listening to and singing along with the lyrics. In fact, most of the

rap artists themselves have lived, and continue to live, close to the edge. So, with rap

songs containing violent and insulting lyrics, and with the rap artists leading dangerous and

violent lives, rap music could be considered a negative influence on teenagers and

Rap is currently crossing national bor

apolitical, narcissistic, sexist rappers like 2 Live Crew and Snoop Doggy Dog, who are

denouncing racial oppression and police violence. All of these issues, unfortunately, result

peaceful solutions suggested as a means of escape? Perhaps the radio networks should

violence and negativity in their music. They know that teenagers are their primary target,

political and heroic rap songs do exist in very small numbers, it is the violent and sexually

are good examples of a political forum. "Through critical and spoken song, rappers are

lyrics/messages are being delivered to everyone, everywhere. Teenagers seem to be the

X, the Black Panthers, and Martin Luther King. Thus, certain rappers, like Public Enemy,

have been going through with their desire to tell all in the form of music. They've been

isn't easy, and it takes time, it is possible.

then send a positive message to teenagers, encouraging them not to bottle up their anger,

much negativity, which is a bad influence to today's youth, cleaning up the lyrics would

Some common words found in the essay are:
Politics Rap, Music Rap, Eminem's CD, Death Corner, Furthermore Snoop's, Public Enemy, Doggy Dog, rap music, Tupac Shakur's, rap songs, rap artists, Luther King, lyrics rap artists, politics rap, peaceful solutions, listen rap, lyrics rap, teenagers children, dangerous youth, explicit lyrics,
Approximate Word count = 1307
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)