The Truth About Rap Music

Rap City: The Truth About Rap Music

Jamar Germain

ENC 1101-006

03/31/07

Germain i

Outline

I Introduction

A. Anecdote

B. Thesis: Rap music has a negative effect on today's society

C. "Many rappers are...in the lyrics" (Pryce 8).

II History

A. Rap -also known as hip-hop- music is a genre... in the 1980's.

1. "By 1979, hip hop had become...American mainstream" (1).

2. There are several main historical eras...starting in the 1970's.

B. "In the 1990s, a form of hip hop called gangsta rap became...misogyny"

1. By 1992, this form of rapping became the most...hip hop.

2. "In 1992, former N.W.A. member Dr. Dre...some time" (1).

C. Another hip hop subgenre is Mafioso rap.

III Evidence

A. In 2003, a study was done...socio-economic neighborhoods.

1. Among all the subjects, gangsta rap... source of rap music.

2. "Although it began as an...promiscuity" (Williams 13).

B. "In his book "Al On America", Reverend...said the rapper" (13).

C. There are many online sources...various artist and genres.

1. How is it that a song like this...chart any music list?

2. "Rap fan, Kalisha Buckhanon...music industry" (1).

IV Conclusion

A. Rap music has continued to be a dependable source of negativity.

B. The future of rap can go a number ways negatively and positively.

Germain 1

Introduction

As Cory first walked the halls of John F. Kennedy Middle School for the first time, he could not help notice something different about himself that separated him from the others. These students are all dressed so weirdly thought Cory to himself as he stared at them all. Cory -being from another country- is having an extreme culture shock on his first day of school. He observes the way the students speak and how they carry themselves and he is just in awe. When Cory goes to meet with his first teacher, he asks, "Why are all these students dressed like this and speak so profane? The teacher simply replied "turn on the radio when you get home, surf though channels and you will soon find out."

Rap music is very popular in today's society and is seen as a very influential source on today's youth. This same music however, could be the reason for a lot of criminal activity today. Rap music has a negative effect on today's society. Many of today's rap music can be referred to as "Gangster Rap". This music focuses on taking part in violence, sex and drug use -topics that children should not be exposed to. Such artist as Young Jeezy, 50 Cent, and Lil Jon are examples of rappers who have many people wanting to be like them.

"Many rappers are uneducated, high-school drop-outs who believe "being real" is cursing and glorifying thug life. For their fans the message becomes "real" when they carry out the message in the lyrics" (Pryce 8). Rap artist are portrayed to be ex-cons who have a hard time staying on the good side of the law; and

Germain 2

wear shirts too large while sagging their pants below their butts and they wear "grills" -gold or silver dental apparatus worn over teeth- in their mouths. Male rappers are also said to degrade women, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana all day. Society's most easily influenced members -teenagers- soak up all of the ideas and culture these rap artists present and think that it is the way to live. What these teens do not understand is the dangers of the rap industry and how many people have died playing in the rap game.

History

Rap -also known as hip-hop- music is a genre that began in the late 1970's and became a major part of popular culture in the 1980's. Rap music began in the Bronx -a borough in New York City. It was started by DJ's who isolated drum breaks from funk and disco songs. "The early role of the MC was to introduce the DJ and the music and to keep the audience excited. MCs began by speaking between songs, giving exhortations to dance, greetings to audience members, jokes and anecdotes" (Hip Hop Music 1). When Rap first began, the DJ was the key person in the group's success. When hip hop became more popular MC's -emcees- began speaking while the music was playing and thus the transition to rapping had been completed.

"By 1979, hip hop had become a commercially popular music genre and began to enter the American mainstream" (1). In 1979, The Sugar Hill Gang released their single "Rapper's Delight" -the first commercially issued hip hop

Germain 3

recording- which became Top-40 in the USA. This was a monumental step for hip hop and the term "rapper'" was coined after this song.

There are several main historical eras of hip hop starting in the 1970's. The first being the old school hip hop era (1970 to 1985), spanning from the beginning till it's coming onto the main stream. The golden age hip hop era (1985 to 1993), which brought together the sounds of the East Coast and the West Coast and also transitioning onto the modern era bringing gangsta rap and g-funk -created by the