Okay, this is probably going to end up being contaversial but oh well.
I know that there's some good rap, Christain rap, clean rap, etc. But it's all been overtaken by obscene disgusting lyrics.
I'm a gangsta
I got hoes
I'm gonna shoot ya mudda ****
if ya god **** mess with me
I'm a bad ***
Don't you see? Killing, stealing, cussing, and prostitution is all I ever hear in rap now. All my freinds listen to it and say that there's nothing wrong with it but there IS something wrong with it. Their getting in trouble for doing obscene things and mouthing off to teacher. And most of my male freinds defiently don't treat women with respect.
Do you really want your children knowing about sex and drugs before they turn 10?

I am 33 with 2 kids and make a very good living. Saying that, I love hip hop/rap. My favorite is 50cent. I take it for what it is, entertainment. Back in the late 80's when I was in high school they said Motley Crue was tearing down the morals of America. Same thing, they just switched to rap.

i say no without rap we have nothing to turn up the volume in our cars

Yes. Yes it is. With the exception of a few artists, most of it sounds exactly the same and is about the same stuff.

I used to train Sea Cadets. At the age they were in, I would not be uncommon to see groups of them enetering the base, clustered together, and singing some rap song they heard on the radio. They were completely and totally oblivious to the effect they were having on the grown-up, honest-to-goodness, sailors on the base.

I made them sit down and write out the exact lyrics on a piece of paper, and then had them go to the front of the class and recite (not rap), what they wrote.

I think that this was the first time any of them realized exactly what it was the lyrics were saying. I never heard any of them singing these songs at the base again.

Hey Ghost
I prefer rap sometimes, like when I'm in a bad mood or something, but even then, it has some rock in it, like the Gorillaz. Otherwise, it's System of a Down or REM for me. Also, one person in my 8th grade math class used to mouth off so much, omg...I was almost tempted to go right up to his face and say "Sit down, shut the **** up...oh and by the way, half the school hates you. The other half doesn't know who you are". That was a true fact .

I wouldn't say that rap alone is corrupting society but it certainly serves as a catalyst to drugs, violence, gangs and other elements characterized by it.

i like rap and i don't do those things

Back in the 80's it was heavy metal supposedly corrupting everyone. And before that it was rock and roll in the 50's and 60's. And before that it was jazz back in the 1920's, believe it or not. Actually the terms "rock and roll" and "jazz" were slang terms for sexual intercourse.

Rap or Hip/Hop is their way of life and thier reality. Theyre doin something they like 2 do. Rap isnt the cause of obscene acts, but theyre talking about obscene acts. Rap is the same as punk or anything like that. Its music in different form. As Tupac says "It aint nothing but music." Most of us know whats right from wrong, we just choose 2 ignore the fact that its wrong if we want 2 do that. We are born with free will to do whatever we want. And if u want to do the things you be prepared to face the consequences. Violence has been with us since the beginning of time in one way of form or another. Some good rap if you dont want to hear the cussing and stuff is Eyedea and Abilities, Atmosphere, Typical Cats, Livin Legends, basically its some of the underground stuff. Rappers rap about guns n drugs n stuff because people like to listen to it, if they didn't the rappers wouldnt be goin platinum. just my 50 cents

i agree that rap/hiphop doesnt have the best lyrics. not even metal music which i listen too has those kind of lyrics as you mentioned ghostdjr. here in america (iam from greece so you know) everyone listens to rap beacuse they like those lyrics saying about drugs, niggas, sex, bitces, dont f... with me, gangsta etc.. The artists want to sell their songs thats why they have those lyrics not to corrupt america youth (even though they might do it in some cases). all the gangs listen to rap music, all the badass... listen to rap music. did you ever see a black guy listening to heavy metal? (lol that would be really funny). did you ever see a gangsta or wannabe gangsta listening to metal or any other kind of music???
most of the people here like rap music so i know that people will say that i am full of bs, wait and see.
well have a nice day:)

You can not say is Rap corrupting America you can say is music...because I heard some rock songs that are just crazy talking about killin and this and that. So the good question is, is music corrupting America.
And I'd say no it's just people now days can't handle it they listen to some stuf and let it go to their heads. It's people these days first they say Eminme(a rapper) is making kids do the things they do, then it was video games(Grand Theft auto) now rap. Ever thought about putting the blame on the parents for once....for not teaching their children the line between reality.

Parents mold a childs actions. Music could only affect the most weak willed or mentally challenged. We all know what is right or wrong.

Basically what I said

I wouldn't say rap is corrupting America. The rap music itself glorifies drugs, sex, theft, murder and other socially unacceptable behavior. In saying this if you actually listen to the lyrics you can hear how it also demeans these exact same acts by speaking of jail, STD's, loss of family or friends and addiction. Music is music and the most I think it influences is your mood.

I try to stay away from rap, mainly because of the lyrics, it all sounds the same, and I've got my 90's/ Japanese/ Techno Is rap corrupting America? In a way, yes. Rap has started this whole East side/ West side thing, without it, there'd be less deaths in the world today... Then again, you can say that about anything

Well I do no understand how people say it's rap....then it's music because some ROCK songs do the same thing! Although I do not know whhy rappers can't get along, but it's no the music it's the people. Learn to handle it! Don't take music out of hand.

Well I do like rap/Hip Hop, and I helped bring it into the country I live in (not the U.S.).

However, we (our label) was warned it would cause trouble and bring 'gang wars' of sorts. That was 97', now, in 2005 you still have little 2pac's running around with bandana's, gangs etc. I almost regret it. It seems people don't know how to keep entertainment as entertainment and not a way of life. It's kind of pathetic.

But the real heavy metal stuff isn't mainstreamed like rap is. And I listen to rock alot and study the lyrics and there really isn't as much wrong with it as there is with rap. A child is molded by their parents ect etc. But if they listen to certain rap songs enough they'll start to think certain things are okay.

All the drama in the rap world- the whole east/west coast thing?
Theatrics, man. all it is.

too bad some people can't see this.

I agree completely. Rap is destroying kids just as much as cartoons or video games or anything.

What is destroying today's youth is having parents that won't take the time and energy to raise them right.

wurd.

this is stupid, rap music corrupting america? are you serious? the lyrics re: drugs, sex and murder reflect that artists life...is it wrong that they are expressing thier feelings and expieriences....people who are not from perfect childhoods relate to songs about drugs, sex, and murder a lot more than a clay aiken song about being invisable...i find that the ones who dislike rap music are the same ones who are from "proper" upbringings, both parents, always had food on the table, always had new clothes for school, and hot water and heat in the winter....i have not once met a person who disliked rap who came from a child hood where they had to struggle everyday not even knowing if they are going to eat before going to sleep that night. it makes me SO MAD when people try to put down rap music, the music is about how live IS for a lot of people, not how life is "supposed" to be...why put down something real?

Some rap is like that yes but the majoraty of it is just talking abou getting high and having sex.
And I didn't come from a perfect upbringing. I wore clothes from the thrift store and had christmases with few presents. Although as I got older our lives got better but that's not the point.
There is some good rap. Some of Tupac. He talks about life and how it isn't perfect, that you get what you deserve, do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. But alot of rap is just disgusting. Anybody remember Afro Man, I'm starting to hear alot of stuff like his songs and even worse.

Yes, and it still exists today as Non-Mainstream Rap, a.k.a. Underground Rap. People in society these days choose to listen to these rap songs that talk about these negatives, they turn away form the rap songs that ideally...don't have what you want to shake your ass with.

IMHO, its the beats that lure these people in the song, how seductive they can be. And to make things worse, they add Drugs, Sex, and Violence to the mix. I bet you if someone made a great mainstream beat, and put good HEALTHY lyrics in it, people will THINK more than ACT more. Instead of dancing to the beat that talks about Drugs, Sex and Violence, they would nod their head to the beat that mourns (for example) how their loved one passed away, or how racism still exists.

Rap is corrupting the world.

After all, it's just talking.
With an annoying beatboxer in the background.

No skill involved.

Sure rap can be corruptive, why not I listen to some rap, it corrupts me. So can other things, in the media, like TV in the movies. I remember when Teenage mutant ninja turtles were corrupting america's youth, because kids were going into manholes.

Black Sabbath the original and best with Ozzy as lead singer, biting the heads of of bats,. Danzig and other Metal groups supposedly turning us into santanists. convincing us to kill ourselfs, blow up bunny rabbits the list goes on.

I have a son and on my weekend with him I still had the radio on he started singing along with one of the songs. I said Don't say that he asked me why I said If you knew what you just repeated you would know. I said what he just said was female anatomy. I turned it off. Then I said he shouldn't listen to music like that until you can understand it. Most of the songs talk about adult situations.

I don't let him watch r rated movies with sex scenes, why should I allow him to listen to a song describing it. So, yeah it does fall on the parents, to filter this stuff that is deemed offensive.

It will never work though, it is part of the culture now. I was listening to a rap station on the radio and a poll was done to find out where kids learn profanity and kids were the one's polled, the number one answer was at school. So younger population unless every parent held the same views would just pick it up there.

The offensive is just part of the culture. I think you can either just accept it and deal with it or ignore it. And what can I say Sex, drugs it all sells, so it'll be everywhere.

Rap is corrupting the youth of America. Younger people are influenced easily and the messages in the songs are not good ones. They also mimic the rappers, and try to act the way they do. I see it all the time. They are disrespecful and I know some teachers that say most of the day isn't learning, it's discipline. I'm not saying everyone one of them is affected by it, but it is deffanetly a problem.

I agree with you... No-one needs to hear that kind of content to make up a song..it is not intelligent at all to sing about ho's and shooting and killing and cussing..... a person with a very low IQ can do that...plus the songs that have that content have no morales or class... You can listen to whatever you want.... but I dont have the time to listen to garbage like that...and who would????

Wow, now who is the one with bad grammar..

Anyways, what you just described is a normal teenage boys life. It's not the least bit close to what they had to go through back then.



Alright, then. Let's see you freestyle, Replacement100. Not everyone can rap.

-----

What you people are talking about is "attempted rap." The entire idea of the rap genre and the reason it got started was to vent their tough lives our on the real streets, and it touched people back then. Now, however, it has become entirely different. Instead of the artists telling about their tough lives with deep meanings behind the lyrics, they're just rhyming about the street, crime, and drugs, in an uppity and snobbish manner. 90% of them live in their cozy heavily guarded fortresses of a house thinking they know what they're talking about.

I agree, 'Modern rap' is dumb and meaningless. But don't get the impression that's what all rap is like.

^finally someone who knows something in this thread

I second that...

Um... wow, are some of you blind? Haven't you noticed the whole East Coast/West Coast thing is pretty much gone? And rap is in no way corrupting America, parents allowing it to be interpretted by their kids as good ways to live life is.

Anyways, Rap may have been influencing gangs in the 90's but times have changed, gangs will still exsist because they mostly compile of teens in rebelion. And I wish the whole Rap world would change, back with messages that Old-School rap brought but with the style that modern Rap bring, and get it right, Rap is Hip-Hop but Hip-Hop isn't Rap.

True that...

And the MAIN source of Gangs....poverty. It is the fault of everyone, to be so corrupt and selfish that the gap between rich and poor is widening. And that so happening, the urban areas of every country will have people joining gangs just to feel secure and have a feeling of belonging in their poverty stricken community.

Hip-Hop was once a culture were you were taught to DEAL with the poverty by break dancing, DJing, having fun with friends, and more likely going to school. But now that mainstream rap has screwed everything up (and by saying so, they did it for money i.e. going corrupt), gangs are more likely to have guns, and drugs just to survive instead of writing poetry (or rap), going to school, and nodding your head to what was once listening to lyrics that would not promote violence.

What many people do not realise is that most rappers are acting, they develop a character, and portray it in there records. Many of the rappers especially in the early 90s west coast gangster era. Many of them where brought up with crime, and in bad areas, but most of them now and when doing the music are normal guys, I have meet Ice T, and he is the most polite and relaxed person I have ever meet, my dad hates rap because he thinks it crap, but he met Dr Dre in London once, and actually had a 30 minute conversation with him, because my dad told him that his son (me) listened to N.W.A, my dad said he had never meet such a intelligent and friendly American in all his life. But look at DR Dre’s music empire now, you cant be stupid and do what he has done.

All these rappers are doing is giving the public what they want, they know what the listeners expect, they are no different than actors in a movie, all this west coast, east coast rivelry is mostly exaggerated to make the rap and violence thing more real, not saying that real violence hasn’t been done in the name of rappers and rap, because it obviously has, but most of its a fantasy.

I used to be a rap lunatic from the age of 13, I am now 31, and I still listen to it sometimes. No white people listened to it when I was 13, it was not yet fashionable for whites to listen to it, I listened to it because I liked it, not because of fashion, people would call me racist names, and accuse me for wanting to be black, them very same people are now walking around in rap attire, and blasting Tupac from there car stereo and dressed in hoodies and $ sign bandannas .

I used to listen to the hardest rap groups there was, some even offended some of the black folk I knew LOL The Geto Boys where my favourites and still are (Click click Bang!!!!)

Rap did make me swear a lot LOL and I used to get into fights because I wanted to feel like I was in a gang, but I grew out of it.

All the best
Faeden

I wouldn't say it's corrupting America, but I would say it's taking over. From now on, I'm calling rap and hip-hop POP music. That's what rap is not, popular music, so therefore, it's the new pop.

At least get something else to "sing" about, actually sing, and please change the beat a bit.

The only rap I listen to is Linkin Park (wayyy older stuff), and Rage Against the Machine. I listen to this rap because they actually have meaningful lyrics (LP like punk rock, RAtM are a political band) and because their music changes. Their songs don't sound alike and they actually have a guitarist, bassist, and drummer, and Linkin Park has a singer as well.

And there is no way you can say the lyrics in jazz (which doesn't have many lyrics), rock, or heavy metal compare at all to rap music. Some are bad yes, but pretty much all rap is bad.

EDIT: And yes, as Euphoric Deception said, rap nowadays is just "poser" rap. I don't mind some older rap, but all the rap that's around now is nothing like that.

im not 100% in the "know" but linkin park and rage against the machine is not rap music

Rage definitely isn't rap. LP on the other hand has made some songs with Jay Z but their main albums are not rap. alternative rock is more like it.

What makes rap music? They both rap and I'm guessing anyone that raps would be considered a rapper, and any rapper in a band would make rap music.

I'm not too strong on these parts but I am almost certain Rage isn't rap. They're a little bit of this and a little bit of that but mainly keeps it rock. That is alternative rock the last time I checked. Linkin Park is the same, some rhymes and keeps it rock.

Rage is all rapping. They have almost no singing in their songs, they just have good guitar, drum, and bass parts that change.

Now Linkin Park is where I could see you saying it's not rap, but the guy does rap, even if it's not your usual kind.

It's kinda like saying a singer doesn't sing, kinda...

EDIT: Ah, I see what you're saying now. Sorry, kind of a slow night. Even though the music itself isn't all rap, with all the guitar riffs and such, the guy singing rap music is what makes it at least a part rap. If you're going for the instrumentals making up rap and not the rapper rapping, then techno would be a type of rap, heh.

A lot of these mainstream rap is pretty much the hated stuff when people search for good lyrics.

Underground Rap

Look for it. It is was better than the Mainstream Rap you always hear in the radio....some of my friends favorites, try Heiroglyphics, or Who Cares.

American needs to worry about bringing people home from Iraq then we will worry about rap. If you ask me this world is already corrupt.

Right, but does it need to be more corrupt?

I can talk, and add a drum-beat midi in the background, I did at my Year 7 Party, and people said it wasn't bad.
I honestly thought it sucked, as it was brutally mauling my comedy routine that I based it off.

Yes, I do comedy.
I also sing.

To me, raps will never be funny, or need any singing talent.



And what rap used to be, is irrelevant.
We're talking about this day.

Replacement, is that a Muse quote in your avatar?

Since I pretty much despise rap in all forms, I shouldn't state my opinion on the matter of whether or not it's corrupting our society. I'm biased against it.

download "home" from Bone Thugs N Harmony and tell me that there isnt singing talent...oh and btw thats a song from a non underground rap group on a phil collins beat...matter of fact download anything from krayzie bone and tell me thier isnt singing talent...

Yes, what you aren't listening to are the lyrics that would be well suited to our society. What you ARE listening to does just the opposite.

Rage and LP may be in the alternative rock genre but they do have rapping. So I consider them "rap rock". That requires talent, and musical ability.

Exactly. They are a mixture. The musical quality of rock, the "singing" of rap. I was just explaining that you can't just classify them as alternative. Progressive maybe...