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This is a highly acclaimed movie by Byron Hurt. It discusses the lyrical content and visual images of hip-hop songs. The author argues the images and the lyrics promoted in the music industry perpetuate a cycle of violence and sexism that harms not only the black community but other consumers of music as well.(at lease one page)
Why do young males appear overly concerned with manhood and violence?
Do you think that violence in the hip-hop music industry promotes violence in real life? Or maybe it is completely wrong; what is entertainment, remains just entertainment meaning the violence proliferated in the music videos is just another item to increase the sale of the product?
Is violence against women a major concern for women of color? Should it be or must we deal with violence and poverty in black communities before we speak about sexism?
Who do you think is most responsible for the sexist images appearing in the music industry, males or females? Do females contribute with their roles as “scantily clothed” and easily offered individuals?
Who makes the most profit in the industry? Do you think black males have a say in what kind of music gets proliferated? If you are a black male in the hip-hop music industry and you know that what sells best is a hardcore violent video with sexually objectified women appearing in the background, would you feel comfortable going through with it knowing that your children sooner or later will be able to access the song?
and respond at least half page from my classmates’ writing bellow:
Young males appear overly concerned with manhood and violence because society has created the idea of being the strong, tough man is what they were destined to be. Young men are supposedly the ones to get all the girls, get all the money, and be intimidating and resilient against anything. That little box of manhood, filled with all of the stereotypes of what a man should be, is what young men try to fit in to and fulfill.
I think that violence in the hip-hop industry does promote violence in real life. Byron Hurt has heard rap lyrics talk so much about gun violence, murder, being tough, and putting fear into another man’s heart. This stems from the idea that manhood is represented by the men who carry guns because they are the ones that protect the family. Entertainment bleeds into real life situations as well because even if hip-hop music videos show violent situations or what is deemed to be masculine, real people would want to mimic that. Whatever people see on a screen is what real people want to live with so it is not much of a surprise when part of the violence comes from the music industry. Looking at it from a different perspective, hip-hop came to be when the Bronx was being split into two sides. Robert Moses was creating a highway, but had no concern of the Black and Latino community. Racist ideologies began to arise from the differences the Bronx had, leading to the rise of hip-hop in order to combat the systematic violences against the poorer communities.
Violence against women is a major concern for women of color because of the way they are represented in entertainment. Statistically, more women of color are raped or sexually assaulted. I think talking about violence, poverty, and sexism are very prominent issues within the black community and that we should address them at the same time because they are either caused by each other or have an affect on each other.
I believe that men are most responsible for the sexist images appearing in the music industry because as men are supposed to be seen as these “sex gods,” male rappers would have women in bikinis or revealing clothes in their music videos to enhance the idea that they are getting their desires fulfilled. This encourages other men to sexually assault women on the streets because they think, “If he can grab and grope them, then I can do it too.” However, it can go both ways where women could be contributing to their roles. When a rapper would call a woman a derogatory name, another woman may not think it is about her. In reality, the woman who does not seem to have the problem contributes to the overall issue; just because it is not directly happening to an individual does not mean it is centered on that only individual because it is indirectly hinted to everyone else.
Men make the most profit in the industry, especially white men. At this point, I do not think artists have a say in what kind of music gets proliferated because of money and fame. If a white man giving out these contracts to artists says they need music performed in a specific way that can ensure the most profit possible, the artists would be more willing to comply as they realize they will grab the fame the white man is offering. Rap music was more socio-political in a sense that it was trying to bring issues into light through music, but now, more aspiring artists are writing about murder or other inhumane acts. This is due to the industry opening up to more black artists as those artists were shifting the meanings of their songs; it is as if the music industry does not want music to be “too political.” If I were to put my shoes into a black male in the hip-hop industry, I would not feel comfortable if I was putting out music that objectified women or had violence meanings. Money is not even an issue at this point because I would not feel right putting other people down and being aggressive just to get fame and a profit. Even if I were to be famous and I could get whatever I wanted, money cannot compensate for the disrespect of other human beings.
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