Is Gangster Rap Making Teens More Violent?
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens
Anybody who has spent any amount of time listening to current popular music knows that gangster rap has become increasingly prevalent. Children and teens from every walk of life have started listening to this music, making it incredibly popular. This new found popularity can be dangerous however, as those who listen to this type of music internalize it's violent and criminal messages. With this in mind, it is clear that parents must be just as vigilant in monitoring their children's music consumption as they are with other forms of media.
Gangster Rap Idealizes Violence And Criminal Behavior
Gangster rap's messages are particularly harmful to young people due to the extreme behavior it idealizes. In these songs, rappers talk about violence towards women, excessive drug use, and many other forms of illegal behavior. This culture of idealizing illegal activities is a result of the dangerous neighborhoods that many of the most famous rappers have come from. While this is an expression of their unique experience, it is definitely not the type of world view that you want your son or daughter to embrace. However, this can be difficult as this form of music has become so common. Many of the most popular musicians are gangster rappers and this success just encourages more artists to embrace this criminal persona. As a parent, there is nothing to be done about the media trends that are bringing this type of behavior to the forefront of entertainment, but you can control what your child is exposed to. It is essential that you exercise this control for the sake of your teen.
Making The Right Media Choices
Because your son or daughter is likely to idealize the media figures they see on a regular basis, it is incredibly important that they see positive examples. Because this isn't possible in gangster rap, parents should seek to steer their children towards better forms of media. Doing this will help ensure that your son or daughter stays on the right track and avoids serious social and legal consequences. In addition, you can seek to provide more positive role models. This will encourage your son or daughter to behave in responsible ways.
