Rap music has often been blamed for contributing to inner city violence; however, crime rates have actually decreased as hip-hop has grown more popular.
Prosecution attorneys often present rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials, which is problematic as their interpretation can often differ depending on who reads them.
Rappers often sing of gangs, drugs and senseless violence which can create serious difficulties within communities they represent.
1. It encourages violence
Rappers often glorify violence and drug dealing in their music, which has proven immensely popular with young people. Many are concerned about its effect on society; research suggests rap music may encourage violent behaviors in children; thus making it essential to learn how to stop it becoming an issue.
As soon as rap’s popularity shifted from New York to California in the late ’80s, its style and content evolved dramatically. Gang culture became a significant component of its style and content; rappers boasted about killing rivals; leading to an increase in murders; as such, rap culture started glorifying criminal acts.
Although rap may contribute to violence in inner cities, other factors play an equally crucial role. Poverty, lack of community resources and corrupt policing all contribute to it – with many of these issues impacting black people more severely than other groups.
Critics of rap music frequently point out that 85% of violent incidents in rap videos are committed by black men, which many view as evidence that hip hop encourages violence. Yet this statistic fails to take into account that these incidents were already taking place prior to hip hop’s creation and studies have demonstrated that college students exposed to violent lyrics are more likely to express aggressive thoughts and feelings.
Rap can help reduce violence through several strategies. First, its fans should avoid music that glorifies drugs, sex or violence while supporting rappers who refuse to promote these activities. Second, rappers should use their platforms and speak out against violence such as gang violence; finally local stations should stop airing such music which increases aggression around the world and makes it safer. These actions will go a long way to making our world less violent overall.
2. It can be used as evidence
Rap music has long been used in criminal trials as evidence, often called out by prosecutors as “rhymed confessions.” Yet its lyrics often do not relate directly to the crime at hand; rather they can serve as a proxy for an individual’s state of mind at the time of an offense and demonstrate motive, intent and knowledge; additionally prosecutors have even used rap songs as proof against threats made against other individuals.
This problem has grown increasingly complex as rappers use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to reach wider audiences, which allows police to track them more easily. Some rappers in America and Britain have even been arrested based on music videos showing gun-wielding action or affiliation to gangs; London even boasts an entire unit dedicated to monitoring gangs and hip-hop artists.
But using rapper lyrics as evidence of criminality and poor character requires an inaccurate understanding of hip-hop culture and disregards the power of imagination to help lift generations of disenfranchised black and brown people out of oppressive circumstances. Suppressing such creative forces with unjustified legal authorities only signals their freedom is no longer worth fighting for.
The authors of this book propose that rappers should have more freedom when it comes to choosing whether their creative work should serve as evidence against themselves or against someone else in court. This would prevent aggressive prosecutors and questionable experts from using rap as evidence against defendants, and may help ensure more fair trials.
Use of rap music as evidence is both inaccurate and unfair from an artistic viewpoint. Furthermore, using it as evidence neglects its effect on crime control policies that stem from this belief system. Studies indicate that citizens perceived to be fans of rap (for instance by wearing braided hair or sporting artificial gold teeth) are more likely to be stopped and searched by police and thus accused of crimes more quickly.
3. It can be interpreted literally
Rap music has long been linked with criminality due to its violent and nihilistic lyrics and dark trap-influenced beats, earning itself the reputation as “London murderers’ soundtrack” and drawing accusations that it glorifies violence among inner city youth. While rap music may normalize dangerous behaviors among inner city youth, its origins lie deeper than musical genres or specific artists: poverty, poor educational systems, systematic racism and oppressive living conditions play major roles as contributing factors behind urban violence as does government war on drugs policies.
Though rap music and criminality have long been linked, debate over its relationship has intensified with the rise of UK drill music – with its dark, nihilistic lyrics and menacing trap-influenced beats – due to its increasing popularity in Britain. Its increasing popularity has contributed to an increase in knife crime as well as an impression that this form of musical expression encourages violent behaviors.
But rap music’s association with crime goes beyond glorifying violence; it also lies in how its lyrics can be interpreted literally in courtrooms. Prosecutors have often used rap lyrics as evidence in court cases against defendants by using them to establish that certain actions or behaviors may have occurred and to demonstrate bad character traits of individuals involved in them.
These practices are disturbing, particularly as rap artists do not enjoy protections afforded to predominantly white genres by the First Amendment. Rappers have every right to express themselves freely without fear of prosecution, and should not have to limit or alter their expression to avoid prosecution.
Another issue with this approach is its potential negative influence on young people’s attitudes toward law-abiding behaviours, leading to stigmatized actions as well as making breaking norms seem fun and appealing – something particularly prevalent with gangsta rap music that glorifies and idolizes actors who commit crimes.
4. It can be a scapegoat
Rappers, young black people who compose music often misrepresented as criminals by media and politicians alike, often due to its focus on drug dealing and other violent activities in many of its songs. Unfortunately, critics fail to see that rap music simply provides an outlet for young black people’s inner city frustrations caused by factors like poverty, racism and lack of resources in these neighborhoods.
Critics of rap music often use it to justify police actions against black communities in their communities. Critics claim that rap music encourages crime and gang violence; in reality, however, this has nothing to do with it and most rappers themselves do not engage in illegal activity themselves.
There are various causes behind inner-city communities’ high crime rate. These may include unemployment, gang culture occupation, rival gang presence and fragile home relationships – factors which specifically impact black city kids more severely and make them more prone to violent crimes; unfortunately however, public and media focus heavily on rap music lyrics when assigning blame for such incidents.
As one example, “Crime” by rapper XXXTentacion has been used as evidence against him in court cases. Prosecutors allege that its lyrics memorialize various murders and robberies committed by members of his gang; however, these crimes weren’t committed by him personally and therefore aren’t crimes in which he should be found guilty; his life was affected by other factors, including war on drugs policies as well as racism within his community.
Critics of rap music claim it is to blame for an increase in crime in inner-city neighborhoods, when in reality there are other contributors, including poverty, joblessness, and corrupt policing practices. Such problems do not just exist within urban environments but can occur anywhere across America.
Rappers draw upon gang culture and street codes to tell captivating hood stories, yet also have some leeway in their lyrics, known as literary license.
Unfortunately, prosecutors can use lyrics like these as inculpatory evidence against minorities – an alarming trend to stop.
Violent Crimes
Criminal justice systems across America have historically blamed rap music for violence in cities and towns across America. Gangsta rap in particular is often blamed for sparking an increase in violent crimes within urban areas; critics also point out its violent themes and promotion of drug dealing through its music. Yet this genre also serves as a way out for marginalized groups seeking social mobility.
Politic and cultural movements arising in New York City in the late 1960s and 1970s led to the birth of hip hop culture, specifically rap music as part of it. Created primarily by black and Latinx youth as an outlet against racism, poverty, urban renewal and inner city violence; since its introduction rap music has spread all across America with various artists developing distinctive styles of their own.
From an early age, rappers who grew up in ghetto communities are exposed to risky business and illegal activities such as drugs and gangs. Because they were exposed to such themes through the environment they inhabited as children, such lyrics tend to incorporate these topics into their music but do not always correspond directly with real life; rather they’re used as metaphors that convey feelings or situations in an emotive fashion.
As an example, a rapper may imply in their lyrics that they possess weapons and plan on shooting someone; this does not imply they will commit the act themselves, but is used as a way to convey an urgent or dangerous atmosphere within the song.
Rappers have long used lyrics that promote violence and gang activity to establish themselves as street-level performers and appeal to their target audience, which typically comprises black and Latinx people living in urban areas.
Unfortunately, law enforcement often responds negatively to this approach. Rappers can sometimes be charged with murder or other violent offenses simply based on lyrics used in their songs – this does not protect the public or ensure justice is upheld.
Prosecutors who rely on rap lyrics as evidence violate the musicians’ First Amendment rights. Creative expression that challenges existing political, social and economic arrangements is an inherent constitutional value; therefore rap should not be criminalized for its content disproportionately; laws such as California’s RAP Act are great steps in that direction.
Murder
Rap music has long been associated with criminality, with many artists who create it being involved with gangs or engaging in violent fights. Yet its connection to crime extends far beyond its creation; law enforcement officials routinely use rap as evidence against people for various crimes, raising troubling questions about free speech in America and how it’s being misused.
Rap music in trials is often utilized without regard for artist’s rights or how it’s presented to juries, particularly when used by young artists and minorities. One trial saw lyrics from an aspiring rapper being shown just days after being accused of participating in murder; this allowed for use under contentious Secondary Liability laws to build an “anti-gang” prosecution and lead to conviction of an innocent individual.
Prosecutors are increasingly turning to rap songs as evidence against people accused of murder without even having committed it themselves, which has raised serious concerns regarding civil liberties in America. This form of profiling has also been called into question.
Politicians have also highlighted the sexually explicit and misogynistic language found in rap music. C. Delores Tucker once likened it to pornographic filth, encouraging her followers to avoid listening to it altogether. Other politicians have asserted that its genre promotes deviant and antisocial behaviors while critics allege such views are founded in racism or ignorance of both its source material as well as wider cultural forces.
Critics have also pointed out the correlation between rap music and murder (Tupac and The Notorious Big were both killed by rival gang members) and drill music (which is becoming popular in the UK), violence and gang activity, raising fears that police could use drill music as an avenue of targeting marginalised groups of youth, undermining their wellbeing while contributing to mass incarceration rates.
Gun Crimes
Rappers often form gangs, with members fighting each other and sometimes leading to violent gun crimes. Tupac and The Notorious BIG were murdered by members of rival gangs; other rappers have been shot by police; violence has pervaded the music industry as a whole; leading to backlash against hip-hop music in general, many artists subject to surveillance or censorship (Cypress Hill was banned from Australian youth radio station Triple J due to violent lyrics); genre has long been criminalised while finger pointing continues today; with recent focus being directed against drill rap artists for its combination of grimy lyrics with dark beats – an increasingly prevalent subgenre with increasingly violent lyrics combined with dark trap beats.
Drill music does not necessarily promote criminal behavior, but rather reflects our society’s current culture of violence. Just as Johnny Cash’s lyrics don’t serve as evidence against him for any crime, so should their rapper counterparts’ creative expressions.
Criminologists contend that rap music isn’t responsible for violence in this country; rather it is being misused by the criminal justice system to force its views upon marginalised communities. Gangsta rap has been around for four decades, with several examples of rappers criticising its system.
Criminologists also note that rap music is frequently used as propensity evidence and this encourages overcharging by prosecutors, which must be addressed through reform measures.
Hank Johnson and Jamaal Bowman, two Democratic congressmen from Pennsylvania, introduced legislation that would limit how prosecutors use rappers’ songs as evidence in criminal cases. This effort seeks to recognize that rap music is not confessional but instead an artistic form of self-expression protected under the First Amendment.
This legislation makes clear that admissibility requirements pertaining to musical expression, including rap music, must apply equally when used as evidence in any legal proceedings. For example, lyrics cannot be seen as literal autobiographies without relevance to the case in question.
Drug Crimes
Rappers use music to establish street cred by portraying themselves as hardened criminals or gangsters, leading many to assume it glorifies crime or encourages it. The reality, however, is much more nuanced; music simply reflects society and not directly responsible for any actions it inspires. Furthermore, it can serve as an outlet for marginalised groups of youth to vent their anger against oppressive systems through music.
Rappers enjoy considerable creative freedom when writing their lyrics, which often results in them using violent metaphors or discussing topics such as murder, drugs or other illegal activities in their songs. This practice is known as literary license and it can be found across musical genres.
However, police have taken advantage of this artistic license and used it to depict rap music as endorsing violence associated with gang-related activity and other crimes. They have even started prosecuting rappers allegedly stirring up feuds through their lyrics under anti-terrorism statutes.
These prosecutions have been widely condemned for being biased and lacking an understanding of rap music’s roots or its underlying social forces that shape it. Furthermore, many of those charged in cases involving rap music evidence tend to be young Black individuals, prompting some advocates for its decriminalisation.
While rap may incite criminal activity in certain instances, it should also be remembered as a form of activism and cultural expression which should be protected and supported.
As such, blanket bans on rap music and calls to decriminalise it will only do more damage than good. Instead, law enforcement should focus their efforts on investigating the root causes of violence and crime instead of using its artists’ music to criminalise them; this will best safeguard their rights as well as those who enjoy its genre.