Rap music glamourises drugs
2008-04-03 16:17
New York - Rap music glamourises the
use of illegal drugs and portrays marijuana, crack and cocaine
as symbols of wealth and status, according to a new study.
The report, published in the journal Addiction Research
Theory, found that rap artists had moved away from the lyrics of
the early days when they often warned against the dangers of
substance abuse.
"This study showed that, in fact, much early rap music either
did not talk about drugs at all, or when it did had anti-drug
messages," said Denise Herd, of the University of California,
Berkeley, who headed the research team.
"So intrinsically rap music is not necessarily associated
with these themes," she added.
Changed message
After sampling 341 lyrics from rap music's most popular
hits between 1979 and 1997, the researchers found references to
drugs had increased six times over that period.
Lyrics describing drug use increased and the context
changed from concern about the devastation of drugs to a more
positive portrayal.
Earlier songs such as Grandmaster Flash White Lines
recorded in 1983, warned cocaine did nothing except "killin'
your brain" but more recent tunes by popular rappers such as 50
Cent's As the World Turns referred to cocaine and heroin as nice
things.
"This is an alarming trend, as rap artists are role models
for the nation's youth, especially in urban areas," Herd said.
Parents don't understand rap code
She added that much of what is discussed in rap is in code.
"The kids understand but parents don't," Herd explained in
an interview.
The word "flinging", for example, meant selling drugs. Some
slang words for marijuana included broccoli, trees and chronic.
Fat sacks and strapped horns referred to cocaine smoking pipes,
according to the study.
Studies have shown rap music was one of the fastest growing
genres in American society today and played a prominent role in
youth culture.