Music is not Ruining Society!

It has been said that mainstream music particularly Hip-Hop is ruining our society. Critics say that the lyrics in Hip-Hop and other genres alike glorify sex, 

murder, and mayhem while 

belittling education, religion, and justice. Being an avid music fan, and artist I took offense to those comments and decided to blog about it.

Throughout this reading one can find relative facts that show the importance of music and how genres like Hip-Hop stem from an artistic culture. 

     Music is more than just a creative art form. It is a universal language that transcends cultures, genders, and creeds. Music produces an unbiased rhythm that grooves the youngest child to the oldest citizen. The melodic notes that stream from our favorite instrument, or loudspeakers are lodged deep in our hearts and souls. This forces ones emotions to express its truest feeling, despite ones rendering mood. 

     Music is deemed as the best therapist in the world. It relaxes, soothes, and excites the psyche sending sentiment throughout body. In fact, music therapy has become a keen dynamic in the health care field. According to Elizabeth Scott “hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many others benefits that music and music therapy can bring.”

     Instrumentals can be so calming that one may want to go to sleep, but the beauty within each note is enticing one to stay awake. Conversely, the lyrics in a song can vocalize everything one may want to say without he or she ever saying a word.  For instance: John Mayors; Gravity, The Commodores; Zoom, Dionne Farris; Hopeless, Tupac Shakur’s; Unconditional love and Nas; One Mic can easily convey Brandon’s outlook on life without my input. 

     Jazz, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Neo Soul, and Hip-Hop are triumphant genres that emerged from or influenced by the African American culture. Each genre produces a catchy rhythm that causes euphoric body movements, and handclaps. These genres are important to the African American community and myself because they are the voice, and self-expression of our artistic culture. 

     Mainstream music is not ruining our society; our society is ruining mainstream music. Hip-Hop is art formed that uses self-expression to convey its troubles, struggles, or jubilance to the world. It is a reflection of the world around us and not the other way around. In some cases major record labels influence the style of music that receives airtime on radio, and T.V. depicting a false representation of an indigenous culture.  Majors view the misrepresentation as good business, but we view it as bondage. Granted we, as artist must take ownership for our lyrics and actions, for there is a possibility that some troubled soul may act out our lyrics. In turn this could ruin the mindset of our youth. 

     Since the beginning of time music has played a factor in the lives of many. Today music is betrayed in many art forms, by various cultures. Despite its evolvement, music still contains one common denominator with its humble beginning, and that is touching the soul of its listeners.  If one cannot relate to any form of music, he or she has probably lost apart of themselves. In the words of William Shakespeare "If music be the food of life, play on.”

Reference:

Elizabeth Scott, M.S.
(2007) Music and your body: How Music Affects Us and Why Music Therapy promotes Health. Retrieved: Feb 2, 2011. From: About.com, Stress Management Guide

Shakespeare, W. Twelfth Night. Text / Script of Twelfth Night
a play Retrieved: Feb 2, 2011. From:  http://www.william-shakespeare.info/script-text-twelfth-night.htm