Perceptions of Lyrics based on Music Category and Perceiver’s Race JUAN ZAPATEL The study investigated perceptions of lyrics as a function of perceivers’ race and STELLA GARCIA-LOPEZ* the music labels attached to them. Lyrics were presented to Anglo and Hispanic participants as black rap, latin rap, alternative, or Christian music. Afterwards, University of Texas at participants responded to questionnaire items that assessed attitudes about the San Antonio lyrics and perception of the artist. Results showed, as predicted, that lyrics labeled black rap were viewed more negatively than latin rap, alternative, or Christian. That perceptions were more positive for lyrics labeled Christian than rap or alter- native was also supported. The other result, that Anglo more than Hispanic par- ticipants perceived lyrics labeled black rap unfavorably than in other categories, was found for the dependent variable of degree of lyrics’ influence on teenagers. aertner and Dovidio’s (1986) program of This negative type of reception for rap music is research has shown that explicit forms of prej- not new (e.g., Ballard & Coates, 1995). In fact, rap G udice have given way to more subtle forms of music has been examined for both its negative and expression. Individuals may express the unacknowl- positive effects (e.g., Jackson, 1992). Some of its neg- edged negative feelings that they have towards blacks, ative effects include its influence on mood (Ballard for example, by expressing it in situations that have & Coates, 1995) and an increased tolerance and accept- attributional ambiguity (i.e., racist behavior can be ance of violence among African-American adolescents attributed to nonracist factors). That is, individuals (Johnson, Jackson, & Gatto, 1995). On the other hand, may behave in a prejudiced manner in less obvious rap music has also been recognized for having posi- ways and therefore not be viewed as racist. Prejudicial tive effects such as raising awareness on social issues beliefs and attitudes are thus behaviorally expressed (Armoudian, 1994) and drawing attention to the plight in situations that provide attributional ambiguity. That and hardships of inner city living (Cummins, 1992; is, because of the ambiguity in the situation, witnesses Jackson, 1992). Although rap music is criticized for can attribute one’s prejudicially motivated behavior its violent themes, Armstrong (1993) and Noe (1995) to nonprejudicial reasons. both report that these themes are common in other Fried (1996)demonstrated an instance of the types of music (e.g., country music). expression of prejudice in a situation of attributional If rap songs have both positive and negative effects ambiguity. Controversy arouse from the rapper artist on listeners and its themes are similar to other kinds Ice T’s 1992 song “Cop Killer.” The public reacted of songs, why then is there such controversy over these vehemently against it because the content of the song Author note. The authors acknowledge and thank Carilu Queseda, glorified the act of killing a police officer. Fried ques- Kelli Padilla, and Jodi Moss for their assistance in the collection tioned whether the public’s overwhelming negative and coding of data. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for reaction to the song was due to the lyrics themselves their time and feedback. Correspondence should be directed to Stella Garcia-Lopez at or to its music classification of rap, which is a category the Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, associated with African-American individuals. San Antonio, Texas 78249 or at [email protected]. 68 PSI CHI JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Summer 2004 *Faculty Supervisor Copyright 2004 by Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology (Vol. 9, No.2, 68–74 / ISSN 1089-4136). PERCEPTIONS OF LYRICS Zapatel and Garcia-Lopez songs? Fried (1996) had participants read a lyrical studies. Thus, the first goal was to examine if percep- passage from a folk rock song (by the Kingston Trio) tions of lyrics would be affected by the lyrics them- about a man who hunts down and kills a police officer. selves or by some other attached minority music label In one condition, the participants were informed that (i.e., other than the black rap label). the song was a folk song by the Kingston Trio, the A second objective was to replicate Fried’s (1996, other condition was told that it was a country song by 1999) results concerning the perceptions of lyrics an artist named D.J. Jones, and the participants in the labeled as black rap but from the perspective of a dif- third condition were told that it was a rap song by D.J. ferent group such as a Hispanic sample. San Antonio Jones. The results indicated that perceivers reported provided an opportunity to examine perceptions of the song to be more offensive, more dangerous to lyrics labeled as black rap from this social group. Fried’s society, more objectionable, and should be regulated studies consisted of only Anglo participants, and this if the lyrics were identified as rap than if the same study evaluated whether similar results would be found lyrics were labeled country or folk song. In the sec- from the responses of Hispanic perceivers as well. ond study, Fried presented participants with the same A third goal was to expand on the dependent lyrics but in one condition, the lyrics was accompa- variables that Fried used to assess perceptions of lyrics nied with a photograph of a Black artist while the labeled in different categories. Additional attitudinal second condition received a picture of a White artist. dimensions were added in the dependent variable- The findings showed more negative reaction to the measuring instrument such as the likelihood the lyrics if it was presented with a photograph of a Black listeners liked the song, whether they would purchase artist rather than a White artist. the album, and the degree they perceived its influ- Fried (1999) replicated these results and found ence on children and teenagers. There were also items that these perceptions of lyrics based on its music that assessed perceivers’ perceptions of the lyrics them- genre were more prevalent among individuals who selves (e.g., offensive, poetic) and perceptions about were over the age of 40, married with children, and the character of the artist (e.g., talented, deviant). did not buy or had purchased a small number of music This study investigated, then, the perceptions of albums in a 6 month time frame. Thus, it seems that lyrics as a function of the perceivers’ race (Hispanic or perceivers tend to report unfavorable perceptions of Anglo) and the music labels attached to the lyrics. lyrics based on its categorical label rather than its Results from two previous pilot studies helped content. Based on the results of her studies, Fried con- narrow the music categories to be used in this study. cluded that the public outcry of rap songs is an instance The music genres of black rap, latin rap, alternative of aversive prejudice (Gaertner & Dovidio, 1986). music, and Christian music were used. Pilot study par- ticipants reported general unfamiliarity (i.e., did not Present Study or rarely listened to) with these music types and artists. Fried’s studies (1996, 1999) demonstrated subtle prejudice in terms of reactions to music lyrics. The Hypotheses present study attempted to investigate further these There were two main predictions. The first hypoth- negative perceptions of lyrics based on label rather esis was a replication of Fried’s general findings. It than content. There were three objectives for con- was predicted that lyrics that were labeled as black rap ducting the present study. would be perceived more negatively than if the same First, the music category of rap is only one of the lyrics were labeled as latin rap, alternative music, or many different types or genres of songs associated Christian music. An extension of the first hypothesis with a particular social group. There are numerous was that reported perceptions would be more posi- others such as latin rap, Christian music, goth music, tive for lyrics labeled as Christian music than if they and country music just to name some instances. Each were described as rap or alternative. Again, the rea- of these music categories may elicit attitudes, beliefs, son for this prediction is that the category labels or emotions in a listener depending on that perceiver’s provide a situational feature of attributional ambigu- preexisting notions of the associated group. ity such that prejudice can be expressed in subtle ways. The location for this study was San Antonio, Texas. The second prediction was that Anglos, more than San Antonio provides the potential backdrop to exam- Hispanics, would report unfavorable perceptions of ine perceptions of lyrics labeled as some other lyrics that were labeled as black rap than if the same non-black minority music category. For example, one lyrics were labeled with the other categories. of the culturally diverse music styles in the San Antonio As stimulus lyrics for the study, the results of pre- community is latin rap. This style was chosen for the vious pilot studies indicated the highest level of present study based on results of previous pilot unfamiliarity with the songs “Missing Person” by the Summer 2004 PSI CHI JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH 69 Copyright 2004 by Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology (Vol. 9, No. 2, 68–74 / ISSN 1089-4136). PERCEPTIONS OF LYRICS Zapatel and Garcia-Lopez Christian music artist, Michael Smith, and “Speed of (g) the degree to which they perceive that parents would Pain” by the alternative music artist, Marilyn Manson. object to their son or daughter listening to the lyrics. These two lyrics then served as counterbalancing stim- Respondents were also asked the degree to which ulus lyrics for the study.