In today’s society, most people underestimate the power of hip-hop music. The genre is not considered to be mature and good-natured. Instead, people generally think of hip-hop as demeaning and childish. These opinions are based on the lyrics that make degrading references towards women, promote violence, and brag about the lifestyles of the rich and famous (sex, drugs, and alcohol). And while I will agree that these things are present in the world of hip-hop, I want to argue that there is an underlying meaning behind specific lyrics and there is artistry present in the songs. People need to realize that, while there are many people who have no artistic talent in this genre, there are also plenty more hip-hop artists that can create lyrical masterpieces which are truly inspired and deserve to be given credit.
Artists like Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West are specific examples of why I love hip-hop and why I believe more people should give the genre a chance. Instead of focusing on how stupid the lyrics to Soulja Boy’s songs are or how derogatory Snoop Dogg’s lyrics are towards women, these three artists actually put meaning into their songs. Their songs tell a story. Take Jay-Z for example, his full album series, The Blueprint I, The Blueprint II, and The Blueprint III, was a testimony to his life growing up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Each song on these albums referenced the struggles he had to overcome to get away from the hood and away from selling drugs. Eminem also had to deal with tough times before he reached fame. However, his hardships were met by trying to raise a family. In many of Eminem’s songs, he references his life as father, his struggles with his ex-wife, and the strength his daughters give him. Kanye West is also empowered by family. Being raised by a single mother, Kanye dedicated one specific to his mother, “Hey Mama,” as well as making references to his mother in several of his other songs.
I am sure that by looking at artists, such as Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West, the general public labels them as thuggish, just like they do with the entire genre. Even though these three artists may look a certain way that does not mean that they are incapable of artistic talent. These men are songwriters, first and foremost. They pen songs that are inspired; sometimes it is by their own life, sometimes it is by what is going in the world around them. Secondly, each of these artists is a producer. They make their own music, which goes to show that their creativity does not end with just lyrics. All different kind of sounds and equipment and rhythms are used in order to generate a specific beat to go along with the original song that you penned. What people fail to see is that each of these hip-hop artists, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West, all have a specific flow; a specific way of rhyming to the beat. And, with that being said it takes talent to continuously write, to produce unique sounds, and to have the ability to carry out your own style of rapping. Not of these three men sound the same, nor do their songs. This goes to show that are working to create an original sound, something that only they can do.
The only reason that today’s society disapproves of the hip-hop genre is because of the bad light it is presented in. Not every hip-hop artist takes the genre as serious as Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West. Some people are just in it for the money and the fame, which is why hip-hop’s rep is distorted. Sex, drugs, money, and violence are not what hip-hop is about. These concepts might be mentioned in the lyrics, and sometimes they might not have any meaning behind them. However, sometimes these concepts might have an underlying meaning that is not demeaning. Hip-hop is a genre that is use to express yourself. Some artists actually believe in this and choose to share their feelings with the world in their lyrics and through their artistic abilities. More people should be willing to give the ones who deserve to be heard a chance, instead of just judging a book by its cover.
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