IndexIntroductionTroublesome Issues in Rap MusicDrugsViolence and CrimeMisogynyConclusionIntroductionRap music is loved by many people, including myself, and has become one of the most consumed genres of music among people according to different studies and professionals. Although it is one of the most popular music genres, it also has a substantial influence on people, especially young people. Rap music has always had a history of problematic and promoting antisocial behavior such as selling or using drugs, talking about violent crime, and adopting misogynistic lyrics. However, in recent years, these topics have become a major concern for the genre as rappers' lyrics and music videos have become more intense. These concerns need to be addressed and resolved, as many professionals and researchers say that the influence of rap music has become negative in nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayTroublesome Issues in Rap MusicDrugsOver the past decade, rappers have increasingly glorified the use of drugs significantly more dangerous than alcohol or marijuana, such as cocaine, lean, adderall, molly, percocets, and xanax in their lyrics and music videos. Nowadays, almost every rap song is about the use of these drugs. A study on drug references in rap, conducted from 2005 to 2008, showed that 77 percent of the most popular rap songs included a reference to drug use, as stated by an article titled The Progression of Drug Glorification in Hip-Hop History. These references continue to increase and you can see it in their lyrics. Take Travis Scott and NAV's Biebs in the Trap as an example when NAV raps, "I just poured an 8 in a liter, throw in some Jolly Ranchers, make it sweeter, Versace my clothes, I'm with a white bitch, and she snorting three lines like Adidas, I got a black girl rolling off Molly, I got a white bitch snorting on the snow, NAV referenced drinking lean, snorting cocaine and taking Molly multiple times. increased glorification of these drugs is alarming as these drugs have been proven to pose serious health risks and rappers themselves are dying from overdoses Lil Peep, an up and coming rapper, died on November 15, 2017 due to an overdose of. xanax/fentanyl. This is even more concerning as people, especially young people, are exposed to these references on a daily basis and are easily influenced. Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation conducted a study with 1200 participants from California, ranging in age between 15 and 25 years old, and reported that 70% of participants who listened to rap also admitted to using drugs, suggested by an article titled How Are Hip Hop and Rap Music Affecting Youth. This reinforces the fact that rappers who glorify the use of these drugs influence people in a negative way because people are influenced to try using potentially harmful drugs that rappers glamorize in their music. Violence and CrimeSimilar to drug use, in recent years, rappers have glorified violence such as assaults, shootings, murders, and a variety of other violent acts in their lyrics and music videos. Lyrics mentioning these topics are common and can be seen in several songs. A notable example is Juice WRLD's Armed and Dangerous when he says, "Gun on me, no need for bodyguards, aim for your body parts, take away your body parts." In these lyrics, Juice WRLD states that he doesn't need a bodyguard toprotect himself because he carries his gun with him and that he will take away someone's body parts when he aims and shoots them. This is also a cause for concern as it promotes violence and easily influenced people, such as young people, may think that shooting, stabbing or fighting someone are acceptable ways to handle conflict. Studies conducted by Western Connecticut State University found that people who listened to rap songs with intense lyrics were also more likely to have aggressive behavior, as stated in an article titled What Influence and Effects Does Rap Music Have on Teens Today. The researchers also noted that social and financial background played a role in how the participant was affected by the violent texts. This reinforces the fact that lyrics that glorify violence have a negative impact on people as they make them more violent and aggressive. It also indicates that several factors can potentially influence how violent texts affect a person. Misogyny Misogyny and the degradation of women in lyrics and music videos are also prevalent concerns in the rap genre. Rap songs and music videos often portray women as sexual objects or as having lower status than men. There are countless rap songs where rappers talk about having sex with women and rapping about their bodies. A notable example of these lyrics is in 6ix9ine's Fefe, when he says, "I got that super soggy, hit it, She a Fefe, his name Keke." According to Genius, a “Fefe” is a beautiful girl, but it is also a sex toy or artificial vagina made and used by prisoners. These lyrics imply that he is having sex with a beautiful girl. Not only that, but 6ix9ine uses a "Fefe" as a metaphor to compare the girl he is having sex with to a sex toy, implying that the girl he is having sex with is just an object or sex toy to him. Furthermore, rap songs almost always refer to women with derogatory terms such as whores or whores. An article, titled Alleviating the Effects of Misogyny in Rap and Hip Hop Music, states that in February 2018, the top 25 rap songs on the Billboard chart were analyzed and it was reported that 18 of the 25 songs referred to women as derogatory terms. This is a particularly high number, especially since rap songs that did not fall into the top 25 were not analyzed. Furthermore, music videos also show women with little or no clothing on, or clothing that reveals their breasts or buttocks. Some examples of these music videos include Tyga's Taste, Lil Baby and Gunna's Drip Too Hard, and Young Thug's Pick Up the Phone. All of these music videos have women dancing in the background with either skimpy clothing or no clothing at all. All these factors play a role in devaluing women by making them appear as sexual objects and social inequality and changing the way people view women. Derek Brown, a former gang member, expressed how rap influenced his life in an article titled Former Gang Member Speaks Out About Influence of Rap Music. He stated, "I remember listening to N.W.A. and they were singing '(F-word) That Police,' and I became someone who believed in that kind of language, and in low-class women and calling them by their names." Derek Brown claims that he was substantially influenced by rap, which he too was participating in the objectification of women by using derogatory terms. Additionally, an article, titled Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth, stated that Fischer and Greitemeyer had conducted a study and found that men who listened to misogynistic lyrics were more hostile towards women and.