Running Head: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RAP

Discrimination against Rap

Robert S. Roman

RWS 1302

Professor Masoud

April 7, 2017
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Abstract
In this literature review people will find the different outcomes of those who are discriminated

against because of the rap genre they listen to or the rap genre itself, the different ways that the

rap genre has been treated over the past few years, even decades. For example, people who listen

to the rap genre are targeted more than those who dont. They are often stereotyped into seeming

as ghetto or thug. Knowing someones taste in music should not define them as a certain

type of person. The majority of people who are targeted by the rap discrimination itself are

usually people of color or those who live as a minority. Based on the research, even though rap is

the most generalized genre for discrimination there are many ways that the genre itself has

overcome many obstacles. For instance, it will come out with movies about how the rap genre

had been born, it even started playing in the most random of places and it even to this day, and

there are many new upcoming rappers who are putting a new name to the rap genre. They are

coming out with lyrics that could defy the government, defy the public, and make a statement

that could actually be heard. The general public is soaking this genre up and is making it the

number one selling genre in the country. This paper will target the definition of rap, how its

discriminated, and how the genre itself was able to make such a comeback in society as being

one of the most popular genres. The sources being used in this literature will enhance the

understanding of the topic by providing information from someone who has experienced the

discrimination first hand, as well as how rappers themselves have dealt with the problem. Also,

secondary sources such as articles that mention discrimination on minorities based on their taste

of music and why it is often targeted in the United States industry.

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Discrimination against Rap Introduction

Hearing how some forms of music genres have negative effects on todays youth is

commonly thrown out there, but with such remarks starting to pile up giving music genres a bad

rep. One of the most notable criticized genres in the United States is Rap. At a point in time in

U.S. history there were periods of conflicts, verbally and physically, due to this genre being

sometimes controversial. In present time, the genre is more accepted, but occasionally a song or

an artist will be in the media feeds, due to the lyrics, actions of the artist, or the publics

reactions. This all shapes the perspectives for many different types of people, as some may be

considered discrimination or their description of rap. At the end, all talk about can be good to

boost sales or bad to damage its chance of growing further outside the States like Rock and Pop.

Rap has grown so fast in the past few decades that it has had significant impact on

todays society, culture, and economy. One common perspective is Young adults are the most

likely age group to consume rap/hip-hop music, and in turn, may become desensitized to the

derogatory lyrics condoning relationship violence and sexual aggression(Smith, 2005).

However information is coming out that As the popularity of rap music increased, crime in the

United States fell, particularly at the point in which violent, gangster rap took hold(Bump,

2014). The following questions will bring information and history about the genre to help the

reader understand the purpose of the music:

1. What is Rap?

2. What is discrimination?

3. Why does Rap face discrimination in the United States music industry?

4. Who gets affected the most after a public act of discrimination?

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The following review will: provide information on what is currently going on with

discrimination in the rap genre, as well as what types of actions are being taken into account

because of it. After, people that dont know much about the discrimination in the rap genre will

be able to make a conclusive decision on whether or not they will decide to fight for the rap

genre. In turn, resolving those issues may lead to a better, more involved community that not

only will support the upraise in the rap genre but will also bring awareness to it.

What is Rap?

Rap is decedent of various genres including pop and reggae, also the invention of the

turntables. In the 70s is where artist began to use electronic devices to create music which led to

changing the sounds of instrument to become something totally different. Behind the scenes of

the funk there were unground artist using the technology for something else, break dancing.

Breaking dancing would lead to people making beats that could only be matched by fast

speaking lyrics which would create Rap in the 80s. It started off as being on the underground

side of music but a group name The Sugar Hill Gang broke the music into mainstream taking

it to new heights. (BBC 2004)

In the late 1980s a new form of Rap would be called Gangster Rap, coming for the west

coast partially California. This new genre typically had a message of violence, sex, or drugs.

Most of the Gangster Rappers were African American, in many of their songs they would talk

about the racism they received and describing what they would do to retaliate. One popular

group from that music was N.W.A. they were very much in the spot light for their lyrics but also

their fans. Riots would start due to police and government censoring and trying to end them, for

their pushing of violence against the police. This type of genre shaped todays rap, which can be

categorized as more of pop than the pronoun sound of gangster rap. One popular artist is Drake,
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a Canadian born artist growing fame in the U.S. for his softer lyrics explaining his feelings which

people can relate to, and then gaining more fame on social media. However, some of his lyrics

tend to be criticizing for their sexuality.

The rap genre has had and still does get many criticisms for its messages in artist lyrics,

but without such text it could be possible that the genre could have not gotten stardom. The

publics positive and/or negative views are what keep it in the spotlight. However, how far can

someone push the criticism of the music before it becomes about something else that leaves a

mark on the genre?

What is discrimination?

Discrimination is defined as the unjust and prejudicial treatment of different categories of

people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. Discrimination leaves those

feeling vulnerable, feeling that they cant do or listen to what they enjoy because of the fear they

have towards the discrimination of others. Some studies have found that exposure to

discrimination in any setting could lead to cardiovascular or psychological

reactivity(Williams, 2000). Discrimination is often an action of hate or disagreement. Some

people will not agree with what you believe in or what you like, there are people who think that

everyone needs to like the same thing, everyone needs to like what they like, dress how they

dress and thats never the case. Discrimination could be potentially life threatening in certain

situations; some may get overwhelmed with the feeling of discrimination and act out, or even

worse, suicide.its supposed to be a time of identity exploration which increases the

vulnerability for various risks that are associated with discrimination, including suicide attempts

and psychopathically dangerous episodes (Gomez, 2011). Now, discrimination in the rap genre
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may cause a lot of violence and disruption. Discrimination in the rap genre means that someone

is not happy with what youre listening to or what its pursuing.

As mentioned previously, the rap genre long ago targeted violence, sex, and drugs.

Clearly, it is not a positive message, but it makes you stop and think, why exactly are they

rapping about things like that? Could it be because theyre undergoing that type of behavior them

and thats their way of coping and getting their message across to a society that will eventually

make a difference?

In accordance with this visual aid with a quote from the New York Times by Jon

Caramanica, although its just a quote, it touches base on discrimination on a powerful level.

The quote is from the now popular rapper Asap Rocky, what is basically said in the quote is that

in this situation the rap genre was being discriminated for being against the gay right or gay

people. It goes further to say that people need to stop being so close minded because thats how

the genre will start to deteriorate. Lastly, it ends with him using an example with Lady Gaga

since she claims to be bisexual and no one is discriminating against her. The rap genre is an
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easier target because it contains actions that every day people are not used to and not all people

like change.

Why does rap face discrimination in the United States music industry?

Rap might be one of the most difficult genres to describe because there could be a lot of

things that go into it. Emotion, experiences, hope, events, it all depends on the situation. Rap

faces discrimination in the U.S. music industry because as stated before, some people do not like

change. You know what kind of music does correlate with Americas increase in crime? Rock

music. But that has nothing to do with race or change. Theres just as many black and Asian kids

that were into rock as white kids (Bump, 2014). Some people are not used to the fact that people

like Jay-Z or Beyonc are fashion icons, they are someone that people look up to, someone that

people admire. Some people were against Beyonce and Jay-Z paying bail for some protesters,

who were only raising awareness on a rally for peace (Yates, 2015). Back when rap music and

the rap genre itself was making an upraise it was mainly African American skin that was on the

face of rap.

Now, with that being said, back in the day, people were not used to seeing a person of

color in the news unless it was because of a crime, not for making thrilling music or being a

fashion statement to others. Those who werent used to it acted upon it but by showing

discrimination. The United States wasnt necessarily ready for the uprise that rap made since the

people living in this country were not helping to accept the music and help those new growing

artists thrive.
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Now, in the left side of the picture is Kendrick Lamar from the Rolling Stone by Brittany

Spanos speaking out about a newly popular artist to current time in his music video Alright.

What the song is mainly about is that no matter what, everything is going to be alright no

matter what obstacles are thrown your way. In the right hand side of the photo, although blurry, it

shows a protest of students who were being harassed for playing black people music.

Basically, these kids were not only being generalized as black people but they were also being

discriminated. What that protest was about was to bring awareness to a genre that has gotten a

bad credit, while raising that awareness they were chanting the lyrics to Alright.

Who gets affected the most after a public act of discrimination?

The majority of those who are affected after a public act of discrimination are the ones

watching. They will be influenced to discriminate or fight against that discrimination. For

instance, young children tend to soak up information like a sponge and they tend to repeat what

they see and hear on television. Teaching kids that its okay to discriminate because of the genre

of music they listen to is only encouraging them to engage in that type of behavior and cause

more instability to the situation. On my interview with news anchor, Stephanie Valle from KVIA

ABC-7, she mentioned to me that one day when she was visiting a site for a news report she saw
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that there were a few gentleman who had tattoos and were of color blasting rap music. They were

walking and minding their own business and occasionally glancing over because of all the

camera equipment. Well, her camera man (unable to give name) had asked her if she wanted to

move to a safer location because this one is clearly full of the ghettos. As Stephanie was telling

this story you could notice the discomfort she had remembering it because even though it was

not said directly to the gentleman, she had witnessed discrimination only because of their

appearance.

With that being said, its important to bring awareness to a situation that can sometimes

remain hidden in this day and age. Everyone can be targeted, not only the rap genre itself but

those that enjoy the music and have a connection with it. Its great to see people of color making

such a huge difference in this worlds and beating the classic rap music stereotype. Some are out

there rapping about things that matter, others are influencing others to love the world, and others

are protesting alongside with their peers to help make a difference in knowing what matters.
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References

Bump, P. (2014, January 07). As Hip-Hop Became More Popular, Crime Dropped. Thanks, Hip-

Hop! Retrieved April 07, 2017, from

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/how-hip-hop-music-ended-

violent-crime-united-states-sort/356783/

Caramanica, J. (2013, January 26). Not Like the Old Boss: Hip-Hops Spirit Guide. Retrieved

April 06, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/arts/music/asap-yams-partner-

to-hip-hops-asap-rocky.html

Entertainment | Timeline: 25 years of rap records. (2004, October 11). Retrieved April 06,

2017, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3734910.stm

Gomez, J. (2011, June 17). Acculturative Stress, Perceived Discrimination, and Vulnerability

to Suicide Attempts Among Emerging Adults. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from

http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/279/art%253A10.1007%252Fs10964-011-9688-

9.pdf.

Smith, S. L. (2005). From Dr. Dre to dismissed: Assessing violence, sex, and substance use

on MTV. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 22, 8998.

Spanos, B., & Grant, S. (2016, July 13). Songs of Black Lives Matter: 22 New Protest Anthems.

Retrieved April 07, 2017, from http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/songs-of-

black-lives-matter-22-new-protest-anthems-20160713/kendrick-lamar-alright-20160713

Valle, S. (n.d.). Discrimination on Rap Music [Interview]. In News Anchor. El Paso, TX: KVIA

ABC 7.

Williams , D. R. (2000, March 5). Racism and Mental Health. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from

Yates, K. (2015, December 29). When rap raged against racism 2015 and the black

protest anthem. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from

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https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/rap-racism-race-issues-america-black-

protest-anthem-kendrick-lamar-janelle-monae-asap-rocky-

princehttp://facweb.northseattle.edu/lchaffee/PSY100/Journal%20Articles/Williams%20et%20

al%202000.pdf

Yates, K. (2015, December 29). When rap raged against racism 2015 and the black protest

anthem. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/rap-

racism-race-issues-america-black-protest-anthem-kendrick-lamar-janelle-monae-asap-rocky-

prince