Does Hip Hop Influence Violent Behavior?

“I got twenty-five dollars on my dresser, and if I give it to my hoe she gone bring back more”, a lyric from “Cash Money Millionaires” by hip-hop star Lil Wayne. Would hearing this lyric encourage someone to become a pimp? Hip hop music does not affect its listener’s behavior; it only expresses situations that are already happening. In “How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back,” by John McWhorter, he states “By reinforcing the stereotypes that long hindered blacks, and by teaching young blacks that a thuggish adversarial stance is the properly ‘authentic’ response to a presumptively racist society, rap retards black success.” That quote provides a one sided view; in opposition I would argue that hip-hop is a verbal expression of frustrations caused by sub standard living conditions, a racist and unforgiving society, and the obstacles faced by black inner city youths. Hip-hop is one of the most controversial and misjudged forms of music. Critics view it as a promoter of violence, drugs, and sex. Critics also suggest that hip-hop lacks the creativity and lyrical substance of other music genres.
Although hip-hop mentions violence, drugs, and sex as best stated by Hip-hop icon T.I. “no way should reflection be mistaken for glorification.” Hip-hop artist including T.I. express their emotions, and draw vivid pictures of their past lifestyles through their lyrics. Those lyrics about their past lifestyles often highlight substandard living conditions that are to often experienced by blacks in the inner-cities of America. What if you were living on a fixed income under the poverty level in a crime infested neighborhood? When faced with these adversities, most would implement a plan to get rich as soon as possible. These plans most often include illegal activities, which in no way were influenced by hip-hop. Consequently these individuals who engage in these activities, in turn become our hip-hop icons. Therefore hip-hop is influenced by the black community not vise versa.
“Blacks