How the Rap and Hip-Hop Industry Influenced Black Communities

How The Rap and Hip-Hop Industry Influenced Black Communities during the 1980’s Hannah Osowski The Origin of Hip-Hop and Rap Hip-hop and rap was seen as a temporary form of expression for the black teens, but it soon went on to become a popular type of music and eventually spread around. It started in parts of the inner city of New York City, and went on to be developed further as a music genre. This genre was extremely popular, because artists were able to share their thoughts about the social, environmental, and political issues going on during the 1980’s. One of the issues that occured was that the songs and music was deemed too violent because it would often describe detailed stories of gang violence. Looking at rap as an outlet for those without a voice ● Many times the people who went into the rap industry used the lyrics and music to talk about all of their experiences ● They would even use songs to communicate between others and declare their identity or community ● For people in the Black community having someone speak out about bad experiences that are similar to theirs, allows them to connect and feel supported The Hip-Hop movement and what it did for the Black communities Most of the songs and music was used as a way of cultural expression and a sort of social protest. It often contained messages about the current political situations and would sometimes provoke others. But, this music was not the full representation of the different movements. This hip-hop movement was meant to spread and build upon the past Civil rights movement, and it should not be seen as something equally impactful as the past movements. It should still get much recognition as the point of hip-hop was to spread awareness of African Americans’ social and political situation in the US. Essentially the hip-hop movement should not be seen as rather in support as an artistic and political movement. “Straight outta Compton” “Straight Outta Compton” is a well known and popular rap song performed by the rap group N.W.A. Throughout the song the lyrics depict the lives of gangster living in the Los Angeles streets. The group raps about drugs, guns, and the dangerous things they would get into living as gangsters. They even talk about the police brutality that, unfortunately, many have to go through. These lyrics may sound harsh and some would stay away from the song, but these are first hand experiences that should be shared. Once this song came out in the 1980’s, it quickly became an anthem for anti-police brutality, and Even still today people can listen to this song and gain an understanding of what many African Americans have to go through. Works Cited Eazy-E Ruthless Records. 2017, March 3. N.W.A Rare Interview [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w3Th4lNMaY Lozon, Jeffrey, and Bensimon, Moshe. "A Systematic Review on the Functions of Rap Among Gangs." International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 61.11 (2017): 1243-261. Web. “N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton.” YouTube, 27 Feb. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8. Works Cited cont. Rabaka, Reiland. The Hip Hop Movement: From R&B and the Civil Rights Movement to Rap and the Hip Hop Generation. Lanham, Md.: Lexington, 2013. Web. "Race Relations." American Decades, edited by Judith S. Baughman, et al., vol. 9: 1980-1989, Gale, 2001. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3468303126/GVRL?u=sonomacsu&sid=GVRL&xid=2341b384. Accessed 4 May 2021. Wikipedia Contributors. “Golden Age Hip Hop.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_hip_hop..

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