Final Reflection

Davis2

Reginald Davis II
Dr. Angela Fowler
English 1020 G
24 March 2021
Influence of Rap Music on African-American Teenagers

Rap music has a mental, cultural, and social influence on African American teenagers. Mental effects occur due to the message portrayed in the composition of the lyrics. Most rap songs depict mental disorders in various ways, which may have a negative influence on teenagers. According to Harakeh and Bogt (2018), some social-cultural behaviors and habits such as smoking marijuana are highly influenced by rap music. Rap music portrays smoking marijuana as a regular leisure activity. However, rap music is experienced differently among African American teens in courtrooms and as a form of therapy. Through the correct lyrics and motives, rap therapy influences teenagers positively. This paper explores rap music’s mental, social and cultural influence on African-American teenagers and the effectiveness of rap therapy in behavior change.
The rap culture is synonymous with the African American communities in the United States. From the artists to the fanatics, the base is composed of the commonly known black Americans—additionally, the community identifies with social crimes such as gang affiliation and drug use and peddling in their neighborhood (Harakeh and Bogt , 2018). However, the notion is a misconception that has been outdated as the communities are mostly organized and come together through various activities. Research on the ifluence of the rap music on the African American teenagers gives a view on the impact of the music genre on the community and how various measure have been putinplaceas corrective actions.
Mental effects of Rap songs
According to Johnson et al., exposure to violent rap music videos resulted in violent behavior among teenagers. In a study where three groups were subdivided in a population, one group being exposed to violent music videos and the second to non-violent videos. It was found that the group exposed to violent music videos exhibited emotional disorders such as anger management and restoration to violence in the event of a minor disagreement. Additionally, exposure to vulgar music messages affects the mental setting of teenagers, such that they presume the use of vulgar language is a standard mode of communication. Music has been found to cause the trigger the neural process associated with food, sex, and drugs. When listening to music, the brain converts musical auditory information to simulate the neural components related to emotions, attentiveness, and euphoria. Through this process, specific messages in rap music may alter the emotional stability of an individual.
Rap artists in the United States serve a significant role in influencing their audience’s mental health by choosing words used in the lyrics and the song’s environmental setting. Kresovich (286) found that rap music’s influence on American youth resulted in significant mental health struggles for the population studied. Results from songs analyzed revealed primary reference to anxiety, depression, suicide, and mental health issues. The study of connection attributed the effects of mental health issues to result from environmental conditions and love life situations. Rap music can affect African American teenagers both negatively and positively.
Increase in mental health issues resulting from the influence of rap music results in suicidal risks among African American youths. Analysis of the lyrics suggested using descriptive, and stressor mental health challenges is common among American rap artists. This research indicated that rap music could contribute mentally to the well-being of African American teenagers. Kresovich( 286) Jama Pediatrics conducted a study to identify the corresponding mental health and suicide factors and young African American males from 1998 to 2018. An analysis of rap lyrics from the years stated above shows an increase in songs mentioning mental health conditions, including suicide and depression. The likely reference of mental disorders and conditions and portrayals such as everyday occurrences negatively influence African-American teenagers.
Social effects of Rap songs
Rap songs may influence how one relates to other members of society, either positively or negatively. Rap songs have been accused of encouraging involvement in social vices by encouraging crimes and gang affiliation in the black American communities in the united states. Correlation to criminal gangs, and the majority advocates for illegal activities negatively affecting the social conduct of teenagers. Lyrics in rap songs are used as evidence in criminal cases and encourage various social crimes. Lutes et al. (77) studied 160 rap song lyrics and related them to national issues in the last five years.
The study identified rap lyrics could be used against the artist due to the promotion of criminal activities through the lyrics and environmental setting. Besides, the study revealed encouragement of drug use and abuse and involvement in drug-related crimes. Terms used in the songs encouraged gang affiliation, exposing criminal motive, and open admission in engaging in illegal activities (Lutes et al., 77). American rap celebrities’ level of influence has put them in a critical position to emulate teenagers and youths. Through the insinuation of the criminal activities involved in attaining riches, many African American teenagers are tempted to join gangs and be engaged in illegal activities as a “Get-rich-quick-scheme.” Copying and imitating negative words from lyrics significantly impacts teenagers socially and affects how they relate with other people.
Additionally, encouraging crime may result in other related mental issues such as aggressiveness, sexual violence, and addiction to drugs. Herd (578), in his study, dives into how rap music shapes the young mind’s perspective on sexuality and relationships. Much research is cultural research that focuses on the effects of rap lyrics. Herd suggests there should be more research concerning health. This review explores sexuality and gender roles in rap lyrics and their relationship to sexual violence. Women are depicted in the rap message, and the environmental setting of the video shapes teenagers’ perception of women, which may result in sexual violence among women. The impact of such misinformed notions influences social relations among teenagers in society.
Rap songs have resulted in a cultural shift among African American teenagers through the emulation of rap artists. Cultural changes occur from the mode of dressing where teenagers emulate rap artists’ way of dressing and speaking. Rap artists are portrayed as successful and live luxurious life and therefore see them as role models. Additionally, rap songs have resulted in a subculture among the African American communities to unify millions of teenagers in these communities (Harakeh and Bogt , 2018). The growth of urban street style of dressing emulated by teenagers is copied from the rap artist. Teenagers consider dressing and conduct as a significant way of expression more than speaking. The choice of dressing is highly influenced by the role models they wish to be like. The style characterized by baggy pants and expensive sneakers identifies with most African American teenagers.
Additionally, the Rap culture has resulted in various positive influences in the black American communities through education on political and social matters. The lyrics incorporate various messages about the free expression of the current social and political status. Rap therapy is also known as hip hop therapy developed by Tyson, where communities, teenagers, and individuals promote mental health through rap music. In the event of a social crime, the community healed through rap music and educate each other on the vice and how it could be corrected. The message encourages African American teens to be aware of the issues that concern them, encouraging them to change. Some of the social issues encouraged include racial discrimination, the fight against sexual violence against women, individuality and the importance of personal and social responsibility, and believing in personal goals with an emphasis on education.
Music can affect the state of mind through the melodies and the message portrayed. Research suggests that music can stabilize the human psyche by eliciting both positive and negative emotions from the listener. Rap music can influence an individual through the message and the environmental setting in the music videos. Musical therapy is used to influence the listener positively, mentally, emotionally, and culturally. Richards ( 480), in research on rap therapy, identified how rap music is a therapy for incarcerating people. When exposed to rap therapy, teenagers may gain a new sense of positive identity with mental stability. Culturally, rap therapy encourages African American teenagers to uphold social and personal responsibilities and pay attention to education and social-political factors in their surroundings. Being aware of the factors in the environment which affect them helps them to get more involved.
Similarly, teenagers can be motivated entirely by using the rap artist s role models when they portray a good message in their song and behaviors. Rap therapy information will showcase rap music’s positive effects on the community. Rap songs shape the culture of society by the introduction of new ways of doing things. For instance, rap artists may introduce a new way of dressing. Since the youth and teenagers want to be associated with the way their favorite artist dresses, it becomes a fashion trend, and soon, everyone follows suit. Through rap therapy, artists can be used to shape society’s culture and influence teenagers positively.
Discussion
Data from the literature review indicates that the negative mental impacts of rap music on African American teenagers can be corrected through rap therapy which encourages sharing and coming together in the community. Mental challenges such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal risks can be prevented through rap therapy (Harakeh and Bogt, 2018). Coming together through rap music creates a socialization ground for teenagers where they can express their issues and gain some counseling. Social interactions bring the community together and promote unity. Additionally, rap therapy promotes social relations and cultural values. Inclusion and involvement of teenagers in political and social issues affecting the community ensure awareness, social and personal responsibility. Therefore, rap plays a great role in ensuring the positive influence of rap music, overshadowing the negative effects that result from exposure to facets of rap music that result in negative influence.
Conclusion
Rap songs’ have various influences on African American teenagers since it is a signature culture that they identify. Mental effects on the teenager’s results from language and the environmental setting of the music videos have been identified with negative impacts socially and mentally. Primarily rap culture is associated with crime, gangs, drugs, and sexual exploitation of women, negatively influencing African American teenagers. However, positive influence may arise from the message and the artist’s conduct both publicly and privately.
Rap songs also encourage education and self believe n achieving personal goals and objectives—political and social awareness through the voicing of political and social issues in the environment. Teenagers emulate famous and popular people such as artists and use them as role models. Although research indicates adverse social and mental effects, well-formulated and structured lyrics with suitable themes can be used as a therapy to modify behavior and positively influence teenagers. The results from the study prove the effectiveness of rap therapy in positively influence culturally mental and social relations among African American teenagers.

Work cited
Harakeh, Z., & Bogt, T. F. T. (2018). The Effect of Rap/Hip-Hop Music on Young Adult Smoking: An Experimental Study. Substance use & misuse, 53(11), 1819-1825.
Johnson, James D., et al. “Violent Attitudes and Deferred Academic Aspirations: Deleterious Effects of Exposure to Rap Music.” Basic & Applied Social , vol. 16, no. 1/2, Feb. 1995, pp. 27–41. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/01973533.1995.9646099
Kresovich, Alex, et al. “A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 175, no. 3, Mar. 2021, pp. 286–292. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5155.
Lutes, Erin, et al. “When Music Takes the Stand: A Content Analysis of How Courts Use and Misuse Rap Lyrics in Criminal Cases.” American Journal of Criminal , vol. 46, no. 1, June 2019, p. 77.
Richards, Abigail, et al. “A Qualitative Study of Group Therapy Incorporating Rap Music with Incarcerated Individuals.” Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, vol. 14, no. 4, Oct.