Does Rap Music Contribute To Violent Crimes?

David Mosher								page 1
Persuasive Paper
Dr. Harris
2-25-97

Rap: A Contributer To Violent Crimes? I Think Not.

	On the television show “Ally McBeal” on Monday, March 2 1998, there
was a case where music was involved.  It showed how people can get so
caught up in music that it starts with the tapping of their foot, then goes on
and starts in the shoulders, and envelopes you in it all and makes you want
to dance.  This can be a way that someone may act upon hearing a certain
song to where they want to do what the song says.  Music has the power to
motivate someone into acting upon what they hear.  
	Rap music certainly does not contribute to violent crimes and for this
reason.  If a person were to do what a rap song or a rapper says, even if it is
on an album or in an interview with the artist, it would be out of the person’s
own personal stupidity.  Rap music is not meant for “Do as I do,” but for
“listen to what I have done and do not do it, or pay the consequences.”
	My claim is that rap music does not contribute to violent crimes.  If we
assume a violent crime consists of murder, rape, or abuse.  A percentage of
those violent crimes is committed out of self-defense, and another
percentage of those crimes is committed by serial killers.  There is no
possible way to prove that those violent crimes were influenced by rap
music.  
	Heavy metal music has much more of an effect on a person than rap
does.  Looking at artist Marylin Manson, his style of music involves that of 
devil worship and revolting against the government, also to go against all
that is moral.  Manson’s concerts are banned in several states and there are
not any rap concerts that are banned anywhere.  
	Ozzy Ozborne does demonic doings at his concerts such as biting
heads off of rodents and making sacrifices on stage.  Certainly you would not
see this done at a rap concert.
	My cousin has a couple Marylin Manson albums and he used to be in
karate and have strait A’s.  He does not do these anymore and his grades
have fallen.  He does not do karate anymore (he had a world record and was
working on a fourth degree black belt).  He now smokes and he tried to carve
the “f” word into his arm, and he tried to take his life and this was all after he
listened to Marylin Manson.  All this because of listening to Marylin Manson.
	There is plenty of rap music out in the industry that does not talk about
violence,  or being a gangster and killing everyone you do not like.  There
are many artists such as Will Smith, Timbaland, Mr. Magoo, Missy Elliott, A
Tribe Called Quest, MC Lyte, Lost Boyz, who do not talk about killing. Almost
all of the founders of rap a.k.a. Old School rap, Cypress Hill, 2 Live Crew,
and so on provide music that is meant strictly for entertainment.  
	Dr. Dre a well know rapper/producer says from “The Show”
soundtrack, that “It[rap] is strictly entertainment.”(The Show, Track , 1995)
	
	Violent crimes could include rape.  You hear in rap music a lot about a
rapper “Pimping his ho,” and “Slapping my bit*h,” but you do not hear about a
rapist who goes to jail blaming rap music for raping a person.
	Another violent crime that is heavily heard of is abuse.  Abuse can be
physical, mental, emotional or sexual.  You do not see an abuser saying “I
blame the song “How To Be A Player”, by Mater P featuring Silk the Shocker
and Fiend, which says ‘knock some sense into that bit*h cause all my money
ain’t here.” It says, “I should abuse women.” You just do not see that.
	The opposition says that rap music does contribute to violent crimes. 
There is a song called “Kill Whitey” by the Menace Clan (track 13, Da Hood),
and they state “Kill whitey, all mighty” meaning kill the white man for what he
has done to the black people.  This could motivate a black or Hispanic
person to go and kill a white person.  This song has been out for three years
and the album “Da Hood” was released in 1995 and not once was a murder
blamed on this song, not once.
	I am a runner and I have made a “motivational album” that has certain
songs by various artist that can get me in a mood that makes me want to run
faster and harder and so i can do better.
	Rap music should not be blamed for violent behavior, but heavy metal
or “devil” music should be looked into.  It is a person’s first amendment right
to “Free Speech” to talk or sing about such topics.  There is not a way to
prove a person was under the influence of music and certainly not rap.  
	If rap music does contribute to violent crimes, then we either do not
hear about them or we  are misinformed.  Someone could say they were
influenced by rap music or any other music for that matter, to make their
punishment less lenient.  Thus, rap music is not responsible for violent
behavior, but rather is blamed by society as a result of preconcieved notions
and prejudices.




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