It seems interesting to think about what life would be like without music, especially rap, R&B and hip hop. Would our young people be less violent? Would they swear less? Who knows, because a large part of our society specifically appreciates that genre. Becky Blanchard said it best: "Today's rap music reflects its origins in the hip-hop culture of young, urban, working-class African Americans, its roots in African oral tradition, its function as the voice of an otherwise underrepresented people." group and, as its popularity grew, its commercialization and appropriation by the music industry” (Blanchard 1). Rap music has altered society and our world has reflected what its lyrics say. People act like what these artists talk about and what they rap about. People tend to pay attention to rap music because it is popular because of the idea of what those artists convey. Treat a woman like a slut? Safe. Smoking weed? Oh yes, that's normal. Due to the ever-changing acceptance of these degrading lyrics, people believe it's okay to act just like many rappers claim to act. Their songs are commonly disrespectful towards women and highlight the use of many drugs. The way rap influences our society is important, it changes cultures, rebukes drug laws and, going further, can influence people to commit acts of violence. Violence seems to be committed more by young cultures because rap and hip hop culture have influenced it. Even some people in areas of lower socioeconomic status tend to see trap or rap music as an opportunity for bragging rights, leading them to the life of the rich like many famous rappers. Nakia Jackson makes a good statement about how rap music affects society's youth and states that "research conducted at Western Connecticut State University found that those who listen to music with violent lyrics are more likely to be violent" (Jackson 4) . Violence is one of the many negative problems that rap music represents or
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