Week 5 Post- Media and Music

The fact that music is so easily attainable with technology internet filesharing, downloading, and radio and that it is such a large part of our society and culture so it reaches such a large percentage of people makes it easy to blame a lot of violence and negativity on the expression of todays rap hip hop and r&b artists. I must admit that at least the top of the charts in the rap and hip hop departments often contain music and lyrical content that would drop the jaw of an avid listener if the true content definition were explained. The fact that mainstream rap contains such negative lyrics is pretty obvious. But it is unfair to place the blame of violence and negativity on all rap artists. I personally am not a fan of many of the top hits due to their lack of depth and their messageless lyrics. But there are many rap artists in the industry who use their lyrics to express their emtotions on the life they live. One can not say that rap has caused violence. Or that rock music induces suicide or bad attitudes. We as people tend to like and listen to music that we personally identify with. The media does its job in delivering this music to us no matter what the content. So while the music we listen to can possibly be a reflection of our moods or emotions at certain times in our lives (or certain times of the day even) it would be completely unfair say that music influences our lives. If anything the lives of the artists create the music. If there were no drugs, gangs, violence, or shootings then there would be no music about them. It jsut seems to be an easy target to place the blame on the bad things we encounter in this world on the artists many of whom write lyrics as a method of expressing their thoughts feelings and encounters. There are many artists whom I have heard whos lyrical content contain real meaning and true artistry and poetic license. (in my opinion at least) Many of these artists tend to speak on legitimate issues and use words abstractly but accurately to do so, creating what I feel is good music. Perhaps it would serve the world better for the media to expose these artists more so than those who rap about cars money and bling. If they were to do that perhaps the neverending circle of violent lyrics leading to violent behavior would cease. But until then we should keep in mind that the end of a story is only the tip of their iceburg and much more leads up to that point.