Is Gangsta Rap Really So Bad?

Kai Yokoda, OCU

Can you believe that a man is still alive even after he has been shot nine times and stabbed once? The survivor is known as 50 Cent, one of the greatest rappers today who represents Gangsta Rap. These days, rap music is really popular among young people throughout the world, but many civil society organizations and parents are really against rap music — especially Gangsta Rap. I usually listen to gangster rap music when I work out at gymnasium. The beats motivate me to work harder and harder. Motivation is one reason why I like Gangsta Rap.

There seems to be one major reason why older people are so against Gangsta Rap. They suggest that songs include lyrics written by rabid dogs. I agree with this opinion. Gangsta Rap consists largely of extremely offensive words. Perhaps this is why it is called Gangsta Rap. Rappers utter their feelings about drugs, alcohol, crime, rape, and other kinds of sexual deviance in their songs. They just seem to turn the things they have experienced into words against a repetitive backbeat. I really don't think that rappers have an intention to offend with their interesting choice of words. Maybe, this is the only way they know to express themselves truly. Although most mature adults likely find it all disagreeable, most young people, in contrast, who live out similar circumstances, offer a thumbs up to these rap artists. Because the lyrics that the rappers write are very close to them, young people feel a connection between the rap artists and themselves.

I think the most significant problem is mainly the financial gap that exists in society. There are huge gaps between rich and poor. If you were born into poor family, you have to do anything you can — even if it’s illegal — to survive. Most successful rappers, if not all, were born into poor families. They once had to do illegal things to exist in their world. They had no money, so they needed to do what they could. Today, they sing songs about themselves through their experiences. They just express themselves. That’s all they can do if they want to succeed.

Gangsta Rap is a cold hard reality. Sometimes it is hard to understand what these artists say, but they do just express their reality. Most other people blink at the truth and fear it. But Gangsta Rap reminds us of truths that are happening in the streets. Rappers claim truth, adversity, difficulty, impropriety, violence, anger, and sadness, whatever they have experienced. We all need to listen to Gangster Rap. By listening, we can see what really exists in the difficult and dark corners of society. If we are willing to listen, we can help improve society and overcome the difficulties.