Abstract
Rap music has been at the center of concern about the potential harmful effects of violent media on youth social behavior. This article explores the role of changing images of violence in rap music lyrics from the 1970s to the 1990s. The results indicate that there has been a dramatic and sustained increase in the level of violence in rap music. The percentage of songs mentioning violence increased from 27 per cent during 1979–1984 to 60 per cent during 1994–1997. In addition, portrayals of violence in later songs are viewed in a more positive light as shown by their increased association with glamor, wealth, masculinity, and personal prowess. Additional analyses revealed that genre, specifically gangster rap, is the most powerful predictor of the increased number of violent references in songs. The discussion suggests that violence in rap music has increased in response to the complex interplay of changing social conditions such as the elevated levels of youth violence in the 1980s and changing commercial practices within the music industry.
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Acknowledgements
Research for this study was supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (030127 and 39950). Thanks to the following individuals who made important contributions to earlier phases of the research on this project including sample design, lyric acquisition, and initial coding activities: Makani Themba, Joel Grube, Elizabeth Waiters, Shiyon Bradford, Thembisa Mshaka, Trevor Weston, Eric Porter, Aisha Bilal, Tamu Du Ewa, Ayoka Medlock, Paul Dotin, and Unique Holland. Special thanks to Navid Havez, Ruha Benjamin, and Evan Sicuranza who assisted with recent research activities including qualitative content analyses, statistical analyses, database management, manuscript preparation, and library research.
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Lyrics in popular music reflect a violent culture, but to what extent do they influence the culture? The author explores changes in lyrics and in societal violence in the United States over almost two decades.