IS RAP MUSIC SENDING OUT THE WRONG MESSAGE TO AUDIENCE?

Kids Speak Out, School News

Music has become a major part of today's society, and among the
popular genres is rap music. More and more teens are listening to the
beat-infused, fast-talking of today's rappers.

However, these lyrics are increasingly being filled with drugs,
alcohol, and violence.

Are these lyrics sending the wrong message to kids?

As a senior in high school, I am aware of an increase in drug and
alcohol abuse within my age group.

It is a province-wide phenomena.

The fact that most rap music supports the use of drugs and alcohol is
definitely a dilemma. The lyrics are sending the message that it is
cool to do drugs because all of the rappers are doing it.

People do not always realize the side effects to drug use. It can
often be fatal.

Rap lyrics promote violence as well. Take popular rapper 50 Cent for
example. He has been shot countless times, and advertises this fact.

Kids think he is cool because of the way he dresses, and the fact that
his songs are popular. His songs promote violence and it is the
violence that tends to stick in the back of a person's mind.

If you look at the amount of gun violence in and around the GTA, it is
surprising we don't have stricter gun laws.

This has become a major political issue, and all parties will be
making promises. People are getting shot every day, and a surprising
number of these incidents are among teens.

Many teens look up to these rappers, and their "gangsta" way of life,
and assume that this way of life has to involve violence. My message
is to leave out the violence. It is not worth the consequences.

These lyrics don't tell you that jail time will happen after you shoot
someone who is irritating you. Sure, 50 Cent is promoting this
aggression, but that doesn't make it right.

Take a look at music videos as well. How many times do you see
violence or alcohol in these rap videos? Countless times!

This is just being drilled into teens as an acceptable thing. It is
all they see in the media, so they figure it is right. How many songs
do you hear about not doing drugs? Or stopping violence?

It's up to today's youth to see that violence is not the way to go,
and to try to prevent it, especially in schools.

Music cannot be banned, and should not be banned, but as teens we need
to realize what is portrayed in the media is not always the right choice.