The Effects of Hip Hop Music on Teens
Posted: Monday, January 05, 2009
by Marcus Parker
Motivate Our Youth
Hip Hop music has had many different effects on teens since its inception in the late 1970's. When most people think of rap music today, they immediately think of the gangster or thug mentality that has infested suburban teens with an attitude that reflects the heart of the ghetto. This may normally be revealed through a change in language or slang, as well as a change in appearance or dress. As a youth motivator, many suburban parents have asked me to help them reclaim their child from this behavior. I try to get them to focus on the reason that their children act the way they do.
Listen to their music with them. Don't judge, be open-minded and ask them exactly what they like about the music. Lots of times you will find that they are relating with one particular emotion that is expressed in the music. The number one complaint that I have heard from teenagers is that their parents don't listen to them. They feel that their parents talk at them but not to them. This is why it is so easy for them to relate to a genre of music which has been dictated by individuals who were raised by only one parent. When parents connect with their teen, it makes them feel complete and they will normally begin to open up more to their parents.
Don't get me wrong, the effects of rap on teens does not have to be a negative. I have personally been writing positive lyrics in rap for years and have seen many positive results from youth listening to it. There are many other rappers who also feed young people the type of lyrics that can influence positive thinking. These artists are usually not in the mainstream but you can find their music online.
Your job as a parent is always going to be to love your teenager regardless of their taste in music, but the more you connect into their world you will find a serious connection that will balance any negative effects of music and give you all common ground to love and respect one another. I hope you found this article informative and for additional information concerning connecting with your teenager you can simply visit http://www.MotivateOurYouth.com
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More commentsThat is so true! This should help me get a good start on my research paper
Yes it was helpful because i am doing a resarch paper on this it and it told me things i need to know so thank you very much.
Marcus, I saw your website. You are doing a fantastic job, I really admire your work with teenagers and the raps tat you have written. I'm going to order your work on paypal. I work with teenagers theaching music. I'm a terrible rapper and have tried so hard to improve in tis area of music. I have used raps in class that cover citizenship lessons. Your raps are brilliant. I'm so impressed with what you are doing.Many thanks for this article.Elfreda EriksenThank you so much for your comment. I will personally send you a copy of the CD with your order.Thanks,Marcus
Great article Marcus. My mother took a hammer to my "Licensed to ill" tape by the Beastie Boys my freshman year in HS and that helped me follow rap and hip-hop to this day (kind of took the opposite effect of her intent).I have found articulate rappers and hip-hop music with real depth; of course there are those that I find offensive and make my own choice not to listen or support them.I do know the influence that this has on youth having worked with youth most of my adult life and commend you for your mission and message.
Hi Marcus,The problem with our youth today!...hehe, just kidding. I think Socrates first said that several thousand years ago.
I don't listen to rap, but I used to listen to rock & roll and heavy metal. I remember my mom's displeasure when she brought the insurance appraiser into my bedroom, and hanging on my wall was a poster of Alice Cooper from his Killer album, hanging himself. To her credit, she usually withheld judgment about my musical tastes, which I now see 35 years later were pretty bad.best wished in your good work,- G
i think this page help me alot with my project. thank you so much. now i know that all rap is not not bad rap
great article
Thanks for the info im doing a research paper on the subject of music and adolescents and if you could give me any more information that would be greatly appreciated
Thank you - I love your perspective. I am a firm believer that talent can be found in every genre of music. Personally, I love classical music. But my husband likes Metal, and my teenagers like metal and rap. I have learned to really appreciate the talent in some of the beats, the guitar rifs, even the lyrics of the music my husband and kids like to listen to. I even went to a Heavy Metal concert with them and threw up my horns and sang along. I was way outside of my comfort level, but I was having a blast with my family! Loved this article!
Hip-Hop is not what is causing the youth to be faced with the issues that they have. That is what is bought the most so that is what is sold, so America has shaped Rap music to what it is today on their own. Hip Hop was originally the voice of the youth, it reflected the hardship, then gangsta rap came along and that is what America liked and focused on. Do not blame rap music or hip hop blame America's taste in music, because rock and roll and all those other types of music are no different and are affecting the youth just as much, but it is less noticeable. Most of hip hop is figure of speech you got to dig the meaning, not hip-hops fault some people are weak minded and do not know any better....
Borana
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