Humanities Presentation

1. Rap and Hip-hop Within Today’s Popular Culture
A Presentation for Humanities 101
Presented by Sarah Keefe
WARNING: This presentation has explicit language

2. So, What Is Rap and Hip Hop Music?
 Rap/hip hop is a music genre. This genre consists of a stylized,
rhythmic music that usually accompanies “rapping”. Since its
explosion onto the music scene, rap music has taken the industry over
and become the integral part of hip hop culture within society.
 This style of music has continued to rise over the past few decades
and has become a widespread genre within popular culture. It
continues to be one of the most prevalent genres of music, crossing
over to different cultures and influencing different generations
through its lyrical content, mass population, and beats.

4. How it all Started
 On August 11, 1973 in the Bronx, New York DJ Kool Herc & his sister
Cindy began hosting back to school parties in the recreation room of
their building. It was these gatherings that sparked the beginning of a
new culture we know today as Hip-Hop.
 Rap music finally reached mainstream recognition in 1979.
 Hip hop music was only performed live at first, but in 1979 a hip hop
single called “Rapper's Delight” by The Sugar hill Gang was released.
This single, to everyone's surprise, became a top-ten hit worldwide.
 Most of these songs were about having fun, but in 1982 Grandmaster
Flash and the Furious Five released The Message. This song was an
early example of socially-conscious hip hop. It had a slow temper
groove with symphonic synthesizer melodies. The raps were about
social issues like poverty, crime, and the stress of living in a
dangerous city.
 Hip hop became a major genre of popular music in the 21st century.
This was clearly visible due to hip hop singles and albums topping the
charts worldwide.

5. The Message by Grandmaster Flash
and The Furious Five

6. Nothing Lasts Forever; Change Occurred in the 90’s
 While groups like the Message
utilized their music to portray
realistic views and messages of
society and other groups utilized
the music to have fun and be
uplifting, the 90’s took a new turn.
 The most successful styles of the
90’s were the hardcore rap of New
York and the gangster rap and G-
Funk of Los Angeles.
 Hardcore, gangster, and G-Funk
rappers often adopted gangster
images and used explicit language.
 The members of NWA were from
Compton. This being one of LA's
poorest and utmost violent districts.
The NWA rapped about the
injustice and police violence in
their neighborhood. Their angry
raps included a lot of explicit
language. This use of anger and
explicit language created media
attention which helped their albums
reach the top of the charts.

7. Hip-hop and Rap in the 21st Century.
 Hip hop became a major genre of
popular music in the 21st century, with
hip hop singles and albums topping the
charts worldwide.
 Hip hop has had a strong influence on
21st-century pop music, with many pop
songs including elements of hip hop.
 A major artist from the Midwest is
Chicago's Kanye West. In 2004 he
released The College Dropout, the first
of a series of chart-topping alternative
hip hop albums that helped change the
direction of hip hop music. Kanye and
Eminem proved that rappers didn't
have to make gangster rap records to
succeed. Thus leading to, alternative
hip hop replacing a majority of
gangster rap. This new style became
the most popular style within the
genre. Kanye West Eminem

8. Eminem Space Bound

9. Rap within religion
 Rap music has also made its way into churches. This is often referred to as
Christian or “Holy” Rap.
 As with so much popular music, the use of current popular music can create
generational and stylistic “wars” in congregations.
 Christian rap is improving in creativity and musical quality as time continues
to go on.
 Christian rap has not taken on geopolitical and social issues as much as one
might assume. Like most Christian music, this style of rap deals with the deep
pain and moral ambiguities of life.
 Some criticize Christian rap for its lack of historical and theological
perspective.

10. Influences Directly From Rap Music
 Rap music's influence is everywhere.
It can be seen in fashion, dance, art,
television and other forms of music.
 Since the 1980’s, hip hop music has
increased in popularity. Thus, making
a mark on every aspect of pop
culture.
 By the mid 1990’s, hip hop became a
facet of pop culture just like rock or
pop music.
 Since 1978, rap music has led to
significant breakthroughs in music.
 Some fusions of rap and traditional
pop have pushed the modern pop
song to entirely new levels. This can
be seen in examples such as Hey Ya
and 99 Problems.
Hey Ya

11. With Hip-hop and Rap being so popular in
today’s society, the question of how it effects
popular culture arises.
 Music is something that dominates popular culture within our society
today.
 The average person spends two hours a day listening to music.
 Today, in the 21st century, rap and hip-hop has seen a significant rise
in popularity especially among the young.
 With this, studying the social effects within pop culture has become
more of a priority than ever before.
 Studying the topic has lead to conclusions of both negative and
positive effects.

12. The Negative Influence Rap Has Had
Within Society
 Rap music has long had a reputation of being a form of music that represents violence, sexual
exploitation as well as celebrating street warfare and gangs, consumption of drugs and
alcohol, sex and negative attitudes towards women.
 Another notion prevalent in society associated with rap music is the frequent, strong
profanity used in the lyrics.
 Most of the themes in rap music today are the hardships of growing up, gang violence, drugs,
sex, and making money along with spending it rapidly.
 With this, many young people are growing up listening to music that talks about violence as if
it is okay and just a part of everyday life. This leads the young to think these acts are okay
and to behave in this nature.
 Many rap songs also tend to talk about recreational drug use. Rappers fail to show the
negatives and the consequences of using and doing them. This also leads young people to
think that using drugs is fun and that there are not real life consequences to doing so.
 Many young people are growing up listening to their favorite rappers talking over and over
again about how awesome drugs are and that the use of them is okay.
 I think that rappers and hip hop artists are having a strong influence by all the references to
drugs in their songs. There is seen to be an epidemic in the U.S of drug use (specifically
Heroin). There has also been the legalization of Marijuana. These both indicate that society is
seeing drug use more and more acceptable or okay to try/do.

13. Always Into Somthin by NWA. This song is an
example of extreme profanity and a negative
message being sent through rap music.

14. More Negative Impacts
 “Gangsta rap” is a hip-hop sub genre that focuses primarily on the
negative aspects of inner city life. The lyrics often glorify criminal
activity and degrade women. This genre of hip-hop has been a source
of tremendous controversy and is often cited as the cause of the
increase in violence within communities. Many young people idolize
these artists and imitate their behavior, which is one example of how
rap music isn't benefiting society.
 Another topic is the sexualisation of women, not only in the lyrics of
rap music, but more prominently seen in the visual representation of
women in music videos. According to the research of Carolyn West
(University of Washington), “many of the young women who watch
these videos do not believe they can be successful without using their
bodies.” This is a terrible consequence and degrading women should
not occur in society. In the rap world, women represent success, and
they are treated almost as accessories. They are seen as a means for
rappers to prove that they have made it to the top.
This is a rapper name 50
Cent

15. Positive Impacts Of Rap Music Within
Society
 Rap music, in-spite of the negativity and controversy that often surrounds it,
can have a positive influence on listeners and expand their consciousness and
musical horizons.
 The truth of the matter is that, there is rap music that is positive and can
serve the purpose of improving social consciousness. This can be done by
increasing awareness of some of the issues that many residents of our nation’s
inner cities face.
 One of these positive effects is that, it has been used as a great unifier of
diverse populations around the world. Hip hop has crossed the cultural divide
and this demonstrates the ability to unify millions of youth worldwide.
 Hip hop has been vital in promoting social and political awareness among the
youth of today. Rap music educates people from several different
perspectives and raises many social issues. Rap is channel for people to speak
freely about their view on political or social issues. This engages teenagers to
become concerned and aware of these issues. This is important in making the
youth aware of the world around them and the conditions they face in
society. This provides the opportunity for individuals to discuss ways in which
they can make a positive change within society.

16. I can by Nas. This song is an example of rap
music that is socially aware. The song sends a
positive message about saving our youths
from the perils of today’s society.

17. More Positive Effects
 Hip hop also is a reflection of the soul and mind. It is a solace for both the
artists and listeners who may be struggling with the same issues. Music in
general brings people together, but the youth of today can relate to the
struggle and difficulties that most rappers talk about.
 Many rappers rap about poverty and their struggles in inner-city America
while growing up. Once they achieve success, they talk about overcoming
obstacles and rising to the top. This message can give hope to many youths
across America who live in similar circumstances.
 Through education and understanding, rap music has spurred social
awareness in communities around the country. Rap music has served as a tool
to speak out against negative aspects of life, such as violence and guns. Many
artists use their musical talents to promote peace and anti-violent acts. By
communicating messages about violence and discrimination, and relating to
youth, it provides an opportunity for them to make positive changes in their
own lives.
 When dealing with social problems, one of the most important ways of
finding a solution to the problem is to make others within our society aware
of it. Rap music is a great tool for facilitating that process because due to its
popularity, it has the ability to bring a message to the masses.

18. What is next?
 Rap and Hip hop will continue to change and evolve as it has done so thus far
through the history of the genre's existence. Like all art (this is considered
art), rap will reflect and shape the reality within our culture and society. With
all pop culture, it will be consumerized, exploited, globalized, and localized.
It will continue to produce both positive and negative social functions and
effects.
 From the beginning of the history of this genre, rap has been defined by the
freedom of words. There are almost no limits within the art. Rap is such a
unrestricted and expressive genre, both vocally and production-wise. Thus,
leading to the conclusion that it is going no where in the near future. In fact,
it will most likely only continue to evolve and change as it has done
throughout history so far. As the saying goes, “History repeats itself”.
 There is a catch though; for rap to continue to be successful within society
and the future, it needs to continue to be thoughtful music and act as social
critic from both secular and faith perspectives. Rap needs to continue to
stand as a means for transcending the oppression and disadvantages of social
marginalization. It should not glory in negative responses, but offer hope to a
rising generation.

19. Questions that make you think
 What is your opinion of rap, its music, values and messages?
 How would you praise or explain the positive contributions of rap music?
 Where so you think our society would be without Rap music and the Hip hop
lifestyle? Think about both the positive and negative effects the genre has
brought when answering this.
 Do you think this music can really effect youth to make a change and allow
those to share their stories from a common ground and understand each
other?

20. Works Cited
 Albert, Brandon. "Hip-Hop: The False Advertisement of Women."
Commonplace. The Ohio State University, 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 Blanchard, Becky. "THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RAP & HIP-HOP CULTURE."
Edge. N.p., 26 July 1999. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 Erray, Matt. "History of Hip Hop Music." English Club. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 Giovacchini, Anthony M. "The Negative Influence of Gangster Rap And What
Can Be Done About It." Edge. N.p., 4 June 1999. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 "Impacts of Rap Music on Youths." Weebly. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 Marchant, Preston. "Rap Music in Society by Preston Marchant." Popular
Culture. Word Press, 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
 Mize, Cole. "History of Rap - The True Origins of Rap Music." ColeMizeStudios.
N.p., 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

21. The End
Thank You