the black communities than in the white ones. Much rap provides a spectacle of.

             self-assertion, with images of black rap singers threatening white power structures, while.

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

             in frustration and hostility, which seems to be the story of young blacks in the inner cities. .

             Even Tupac Shakur's songs, such as "If I Die 2nite" and "Death Around the Corner,".

             describe the danger and paranoia of living in the no-peace zones of ghetto communities,.

             where bullets fly more than birds. The sadness and rage of such songs concerns and.

             affects many of the youth's lives today, particularly those in black suburban areas.

             While much of rap contains violence, explicit lyrics, and is often sexist, some is.

             not, many argue. Some rap songs invoke groups that are doing something positive, for a.

             good cause, as well as the black radical heroes and traditions of the past, such as Malcolm.

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

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

             forcing cultural realities into the public arena" (Berry 624). However, there are more.

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

             derogatory towards women, portraying them as good for only one thing--sex. .

             Furthermore, Snoop's songs are obsessed with being a gangster and a lawbreaker who.

             smokes dope and kills without remorse. Snoop is one of the most popular rappers in the.

             circuit today and is widely listened to by a variety of teenagers. So, while the very few.

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

             explicit ones that are the rage today. This is what the youth are chanting to.

             It is true that there have been attempts to "warn parents about rap's explicit lyrics; .

             that the lyrics and the music are dangerous to the youth of America" (Politics of Rap 1) by.