Hip-hop Culture and its Effect on Teenage Behavior

From the street corner to the world stage, hip-hop has grown into one of the world’s most prominent musical genres and cultural influences. Hip-hop is more than music, it’s a cultural movement that incorporates different elements of art. Four foundational elements characterize hip-hop culture. The original four pillars of hip-hop include DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and Visual/graffiti art.

These forms of expression have also developed into further subcultures with lasting legacies.

The intersection of these four also generated a cultural revolution that rapidly spread across the globe.
The global influence of hip-hop culture has shaped music styles, fashion, technology, art, entertainment, language, dance, education, politics, media, and more.

Legends used music as a movement to talk about injustice, corruption, and bad government in the society. The likes of Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Ebenezer Obey, and more. Hip-hop has had an overwhelming influence on the Black community in America (as well as American society as a whole). Hip-hop is more than music; it’s a full and vibrant culture. Since the 1980s, hip-hop has influenced and uplifted America, speaking up for generations and providing a voice to marginalized populations. The diversity of music that people listen to impacts their well-being, numerous people grow up listening to music in their environment, and while listening they adapt and pick up behavior and slang from the lyrics.
Many hip-hop songs of today just revolve around abuse, violence, drugs, sexual harassment, depression, and disturbing language almost as if they were promoting it. Hip-Hop music is known for being degrading to women and promoting sexist views favoring male dominance, an instance of hip-hop music is one which was released by a fast-rising musician speaking ill about the female gender but due to the ignorance of the masses, they accepted it wholeheartedly and also promoted it more.

This affects young girls who are hearing and seeing these images and words and building their identities from these artists. This generation has normalized this type of content without considering the influence it has on young teenagers. There are many positive influences of hip-hop and a few examples are the breaking down of cultural barriers, the economic impact, and political awareness of pressing and urgent issues. Though there are many positive influences, there are also many negative influences as well.

Hip-Hop music is a very significant part in the part of everyone’s lives and it’s known as a contributing factor to lightening your mood and even bringing happier moments. Some people don’t have an issue with it because it expresses emotions and life stories, however, artists should be mindful of the way they portray their music because it can lead to destructive behavior. Some American hip-hop artist solely uses hip-hop to tell their personal stories encouraging depression and indirectly encouraging teenagers to overwhelm themselves with depression.

Psychologically hip-hop affects teenagers. A song that only revolves around drug abuse, gun, and encouraging all sorts of bad habits in teenagers. A song by a Nigerian artist indirectly encourages men’s masturbation and what do you expect from a teenager who listens to such songs?

Practically such a teenager will derive joy in performing what he/she has seen in the musical shoot of that hip-hop music. Researchers have long suggested that exposure to violent music lyrics has been linked to emotional and behavioral problems, including aggression, substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and suicide. This messaging often fuels negative emotions that amplify these behaviors.

Present hip-hop songs of this 21st century affect the educational system. The educational system is beginning to go down the rail as teenagers now forgo their ambition to pursue music. That’s not bad but what’s the motive for that? Every teenager wants to be like a hip-hop artist all because of the flashy lifestyles they depict forgetting Education is pivotal.

In a case where an artist is being paid 50 million for endorsement while a first-class university student is given 15 thousand nairas, who then will read?

Hip-Hop has recently heated the topic of the sexualization of women not only in the lyrics of music but more importantly the visual representation of women in music videos. The popularity of music videos has reinforced the overt sexuality found in hip-hop music. Women in these videos are often scantily clothed and use their bodies to get material things. Young women are surrounded by these negative images, and many have adapted their lifestyles to fit them. Many of the young ladies who watch these videos do not believe they can be successful without using their bodies.” This is a terrible consequence and degrading women should not occur in society.

In conclusion, while many people struggle to look past the profanity, materialism and high-risk messages often celebrated within mainstream Rap music, Hip Hop culture at its core is built on values of social justice, peace, respect, self-worth, community, and having fun.

EMIABATA JOY OLUWATOBI

200 LEVEL

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO.