The Stakes Are High: Violence, Hip-Hop, and the United States

Amber Smith

Dr. Stofko

Core 100

1 December 2010

Debating Race

"The Stakes are High: Violence, Hip-Hop, and the United States"

Dyson, along with John McCain and John Kerry were invited to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in September of 2000. Dyson was to speak on a panel discussing violence, Hip-Hop and how it's affecting the youth in America. Dyson explained that it is unfair to make hip-hop music responsible for the violent behavior of our youth. He goes on to explain that the negative messages portrayed in some hip-hop music may be all that some artists know. I feel as though Dyson was making up excuses to as to why that is acceptable.

Unfortunately, hip-hop is not, today, what it used to be. The hip-hop culture has transformed so much in recent years. It is indeed an insult to artists such as Lauryn Hill, who "lets her pain saturate her art," as reported from The Root magazine. Artists such as Common and Musiq Soulchild, who take such pride in their craft, must look at today's hip-hop industry and scoff. No longer is hip-hop a culture of unique expression and creativity, but a culture dominated by ignorance.

In my opinion, the entire hip-hop industry has been made a mockery of. Hip-hop consists of more than just music. Hip-hop is a culture, a way of life for many. It has been reduced to nothing more than ignorance put to a catchy beat. Real hip-hop is truly a thing of the past; today's hip-hop is a senseless perpetrator.

The hip-hop artists that are most popular today don't seem to take their craft seriously. I do not believe artists such as Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Soulja Boy realize the power of their influence over those that embrace the ignorance that they disguise as music. When I hear the level of explicitness in their lyrics I must question the character of the writers. As I watch the derogatory portrayal of women in music videos I become disgusted. As I see youth imitating the inappropriate dress of their favorite rap star I become engulfed with embarrassment, embarrassment for a culture that I used to have so much respect for.

It is a fact that African Americans are the primary demographic of hip-hop music. As an