Viewpoints: Words can Hurt (music and violence)

In this article, I read about different opinions on the topic of music and violence. One man, who is a DJ on the popular hip-hop radio station in Petersberg, stated his opinion very clearly," (It's) like cancer, or like crack going into neighborhoods...Gangsta rap has been destructive as the Klan". What he is saying makes a huge statement, to me it is a little extreme but it gets the point across that rap doesn't have a good message but the music spreads quickly. Much of what is said in this article revolves around blaming the record companies because the artists aren't educated enough to know how to make a better image for his or her self. This is because production is for profit and if the audience like violence they will get violence because it brings in money. Many video games and movies also depict violence and it mirrors the affects that rap has. In the article is talks about a discussion that went on between a few rappers and producers. One rapper talked about how it wasn't bad because it was a way of reality for those in the hood. Near the end of the conversation though, it was put into realization that the rappers are just reiterating the stories instead of trying to tell the listeners how to get out of the situations that go on in the normal hoodlum society. I think that this is very true that even though reality of the hood is there and interesting to hear about, it doesn't give any right to have listeners follow in their footsteps and learn negative ways from them. Instead, they should have rap about how to get out of the situations or at least be less explicit in telling their stories. A quote that I found very true and interesting is "Hurt's film outlines the way hip-hop culture pushes male artists and fans into presenting 'hyper masculine' image into the world;requiring them to show toughness, domination of others, wealth, and widespread success with women". This quote I found interesting because it shows how music impacts the mind of the listeners. Even if the song isn't made to control the minds of all of their listeners, to an extent, the song manipulates or twists a person's perception of how they should be viewed in society.


Deggans, Eric. "WORDS CAN HURT." The St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL). (Feb 20, 2007): 1E. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 9 Feb. 2010 .