The lyrics are unmistakable. The beats, one of a kind. And the controversy, infinite.
In the history of music, no genre has created more controversy in the mainstream public than rap. Even rock can't compare to the controversy rap has caused when you consider the wide variety of social issues this particular genre has impacted.
Why has rap created such intense controversy? What do the lyrics intend to represent, and in what manner does rap represent the cultures sending these messages?
The genre of rap came about because of sincere oppression and as a reaction to the miserable living conditions blacks and Latinos were forced to exist in within our very country. These conditions defied the American ideal, the seemingly shared belief that all Americans were equal and had equal opportunities. And it shouldn't be of any surprise considering the rich but unfortunate history of racism in this country.
These sentiments led to the artistic expression that we call rap. Compared to the billion-dollar empire that now exists, it's almost hard to believe that rap was a poetically artistic representation of a group of individuals, living in the ghettos of the Bronx and south-central Los Angles, coming together against centuries of racism and oppression.
It shouldn't be a surprise that this music, which was far more than random beats accompanied with lyrics, often had violent references. These people were angry and they were reacting to that. The tension that exploded in L.A. after Rodney King didn't merely occur; it has been in existence, brewing in the ghettos far before rap ever came into existence. And despite this, rappers don't literally condone violence. These are metaphors — the anger, especially toward government and police oppression, is represented in lyrical metaphors, and sometimes the videos.
The violence is also an intense representation of the American ideal. Our popular culture artifacts, from movies to television to video games, all use violence as a vehicle to attract the audience. We are the cowboys. It's been with us, from the whitest of white to the blackest of black, from the beginning of our forceful existence. Perhaps it's the manner in which rap seems to imply violence that attracts additional criticizes. More likely it's the fact a minority culture is sending out these messages.
The irony of rap is defined is the undoubtedly sexist content within the lyrics. How — or better put, why — does a representation of an oppressed group contain oppression in itself? One of the things to consider is the fact that this sexist trait is seen throughout black, Latino, white, literally most cultures after the American Revolution. So naturally, this oppression is represented in any music representing a specific group. And indeed, according to journalist Robin D.G. Kelley, it is seen in the blues genre and other aspects of black culture from the past.
But why so much in rap? Why has the woman become such an object? I'd make the strong argument that because rap is a genre that represents more closely black communities of a recent generation, and since this community has only recently been freed from tyranny, that the conception of women by blacks still remains an issue. But mostly it's about the need of empowerment. Because of that very tyranny, rappers reacted outwardly against society. They needed to feel powerful; they needed to have the feeling of humanity and worth that had been taken away from them. It doesn't justify sexism, but it does at least explain it.
The criticism of rap is understandable. The sexism is hard to rationalize as a reflection of society and the need to project power. The violence in the lyrics is not simply a representation of the greater culture's obsession with violent behavior; it also represents the metaphorical expression against oppression. This makes rap as fluid as any of the genres that have ever come to music. Its modern day implications have made it a multibillion-dollar industry that is becoming far greater than its roots as it takes its place in popular culture.
Josh can be reached by e-mail at: joshua.spivack@asu.edu.
