According to Webster's Dictionary, music is defined as "sounds produced in harmonious, rhythmic combinations". There are many forms of music, some may not even be "harmonious" to others, but they are still considered music. This is perhaps due to the real reason for music: the expression of the human soul's thoughts and emotions. However, expressions vary and when new forms are born they can often produce conflict and criticism. Rap music is no exception. Rap has received more criticism and conflict since its start in the late 1970s then its counterparts, including rock-n-roll in the 1950s. With only a few exceptions, the conflict surrounding rap music is drawn along the line of African-American and Anglo-American cultures.
[...] WORKS CITED Chappell, Kevin. "What's wrong (and right) about Black Music?" Ebony Sept. 1995: 25. Dunham, Richard S. "Gunning For the Gangstas." Business Week 19 June 1995: 41. Dyson, Michael Eric. "When Gangstas Grapple with Evil." New York Times 30 Mar natl. ed., sec. 34. Fried, Carrie B. "Bad [...]
[...] Because Anglo-American still control most of music industry, media and governmental structure, Henderson tries to shield rap against their prying eyes. Not only are they ignorant of the situation rappers and their audiences are going through, but the critics are also unable to judge African-American music from a non- biased standpoint. How can you feel the appeal of an oppressed person, says Henderson, when it is your societal structure which is doing the oppressing? "Rap must be insulated from white supremacist criticism from outside the community. [...]
[...] Even at this point in rap's development, nearly 20 years after it was first created in America's inner-cities, Gladney feels rap has still failed to find a foothold among the artistic community. Because it reflects the rough edges of the inner city, without apology, he explains how rap must be dealt with as a viable medium because of its strong messages and its relationship with its audience. " . Hip-hop has been grossly misunderstood. Many of the criticisms that hip-hop has endured have been uninformed observations of a mode of cultural expression that would-be critics are simply unfamiliar with. [...]
[...] This group of White supremacists in Blackface simply wait for White sanction of culture before giving their seal of approval.'' (309) Anglo-American opponents of rap are also being seen more and more as hypocrites, because as noble as their attacks against the music seem - protecting the moral fabric of America, fighting against the exploitation of women - there are still very racial roots to their arguments. Whether this is a conscious decision or not is still up for debate. [...]
[...] They see rap music as an expression of African-American culture, but because of its explicit lyrics and abundance of violence, they tend to shy away from it. Rap, they contend, does more harm than good to the nationwide standing of African-Americans, but they contest that if the music is used appropriately, it can encourage African-Americans positively. "But this is not about said William Raspberry, a Washington Post columnist. "It's about degradation. There are plenty of rap lyrics that, while hardly my cup of tea, deal with these things that are important to young people. [...]
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