hey, i've read all ur posts & u've made some really intelligent comments, but on this point i don't agree!
i'm 17 year old black male & grew up on an estate in east london, it's quite a rough area, i've witnessed countless fights, about 4 stabbings and since about the age of 10, had 2 walk up and down stairs littered with needles, roaches, once even a modified replica gun.
i've listened 2 rap music for as long as i can remember, i agree it can incite anger, hate, rebellious attitudes, but not enough 2 act on it, i am now studying a levels at college and will be studying for a degree next year, crime and drugs surround me in this area and it is very very hard to avoid unless u lock yourself in your house 24/7, i myself have dabbled in these activities but it was my mum who prevented from straying, parents are a big factor in this discussion, urban youths rarely have any positive role models, instead they are left to look up 2 the local drug dealer with his gold chains and bmw, life shouldn't have to be so hard for youths and with all the problems your teen years bring, you can see why they are attracted to this lifestyle and take the easy route 2 money, their's also the problem of the relationship with the police and how we feel they can't protect us, their's no communication what so ever between locals and the police
For me rap music reflects what goes on in urban areas, u say it normalises gun culture, U, like so many others FAIL to realise in some places IT IS THE NORM!!!!! & u will never know that and u dont want to believe it because u have never experienced it!!!!!!! u havn't had to live here!!!!!!!!!!! how can u make such bold judgements?????
a lot of these lyrics believe it or not are easy to relate 2, it's also admiration of the rapper's talent (some of the lyrics are really intelligent, funny, sometimes even philosophical) but primarily it's for entertainment, just a song i can dance 2
another thing! if u were to look in depth at each an every individual case involving guns, honestly how many would be in anyway related to music????? Answer: probably none
lastly about the clothes it only seems to be males who comment on how terrible we look, i think i look good in them and so do the ladies
lol and that's all that matters! i guess the clothes thing is just a matter of taste, they're really popular amongst YOUNG peepz lol
the jewellry, really tacky i agree!
i respect ur view, but its so different to mine because we live in almost different worlds and have had different lives and experiences, u and those politicians are so out of touch with todays urban youths, i find it offensive and extremely annoying that you think u know more about our lives than us, stop generalising the way u do and stop blaming rap, the simple truth is it's just not that simple, u all wish it was, but it's not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!