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Michelle White English 101 Sec 43 Censorship of Rap Music: America, land of the free or home of the enslaved? The First Amendment states congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion on prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the light of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. (Quoted from web) This amendment includes anything that allows people to express themselves freely in any shape or form. By censoring rap music the government is violating the artists First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Censorship is the examining of material and suppressing all or part if considered morally or otherwise unacceptable. (Websters Dictionary, 87) Censorship of rap music is a way to limit the exposure of what is going on in the world today.
Gangster rap, the most popular, but most controversial music today, is a depiction of the lives of a large group of people. When rappers speak, they are just telling about the lives that they live day to day. If you think this reality is positive then youre wrong, says rap artist DMX, because there are not too many communities in the hood. Theres just a bunch of individuals. But all that matters to me is if niggas know Im speaking for them because I am them. (D.
M. XThe Dog Bites, web) The government cannot censor what these artists speak of (i. e. poverty, welfare, and police brutality) because they are the truth. You might catch me walkin with my head down in the pouring rain Trying hard to find answers to questions no one can seem to explain I coulda been born son of a king Instead I was born son of a killa surrounded by fiends and drug dealers Dear God I got some questions that maybe you can answer Why my brother got shot and my grandmother died of cancer Now through it all I try to ball and keep it real They say they dont feel what I feel, I guess cause they dont live where I live Now see my mom tried to be strong, my brother died, didnt wanna see her cry But I seen her through the reflection of the mirror within tears from her eyes And my next door neighbor committed suicide, Was it cause of stress And if it was, Was it that bad that he had to choose death? (verse by Silk the Shocker, Take my Pain, Theres one in every family, Fiend) The typical stereotypes of gangster rap are portrayed as being violent and degrading to women. The reality of rap music is that everything stated in the rhymes is true.
Artists are not degrading women; they are speaking of women who degrade themselves. Look here Ms Thang/ hate to salt your game / but you a money hungry woman and you need to change. (You Wonder Why They Call you Bitch, All Eyez on Me, Tupac Shakur) Many rap artists come from inner city projects where violence, sex, and drugs are all they see. Rap music allows people to experience what really happens in the world. It opens a door to the other side of the game of life. Violence occurs in this country everyday and these artists have seen the causes and effects of this violence. How many brotha's fell victim to the streets/ rest in peace young nigga theres a heaven for a G/ be a lie if I told you that I never thought of death / my niggas we the last ones left. (Life Goes On, All Eyez on Me, Tupac Shakur) Many rap artists, being black males, feel that they are a forever-dying race.
They are witnesses to the poverty and struggle that many people are still facing. Many people can relate to the poetry that describes their everyday lives. Censoring the lyrics takes away the emotion that is built into the music. Everytime I open my eyes, I thank God for win this soldier Cause in this cruel world its hard to walk these streets being sober It hurts tryin to get over all the weight on my shoulders Me used to babysitters buy boulders Its all on me to really except that I lost my brother And to be strong and just to go on since we share the same mother Pillows and covers cant smother the pain that I have Sometimes I feel like I lost my better half, so sad But thats the way of the ghetto, see your life is ready made Its an accomplishment to pass eighth grade See hate, they hate my city, givin us the pushers and tramps For highs, sellin they book of food stamps At night I light the porch lamp until my lil cousin came in Cuz I cant afford to lose another kin The life of living is thin, you could lose it if it came today Rained away, you be wondering how to take the pain away. (Verse from Fiend, Take My Pain, Theres One in Every Family, Fiend) The main debate of rap music is that it is a bad influence on todays children. Many rap albums are tagged with the Parental Advisor Logo and that allows parents to determine what is appropriate for their children. Just like the advisory labels on HBO, if the parent doesnt change the channel then that child is subject to all kinds of explicit images.
But people are not attacking HBO for showing naked bodies on the screen. They feel that rap music is the anti-Christ and will brainwash young children into being killers. Everyday a child can turn the television on the news and witness an act of violence that has occurred. The average American child will see 8, 000 murders before he finishes elementary school! (Bill Walsh, Media Watch web) Listening to rap music does not do any more harm than the news. They both depict what happens in the world everyday.
Parents do not tell their children that they cannot watch television because Jeffery Dahmer may influence them to eat a fellow human. So therefore, parents shouldnt think that rap music is bad and may influence children to go pick up a gun and start busting or stand out on the corner and slang cocaine to make a buck. Rap artists only lead people into the world as they know it and by censoring the lyrics, the government is telling them that their lives are not important and nonexistent. This will do nothing more but make rap music the center of controversy because artists are going to continue to speak of their lives.
And there will always be someone there to criticize his or her work. I Cry Sometimes when Im alone I Cry, Cause I am on my own. The tears I cry are bitter and warm. They flow with life but take no form I Cry because my heart is torn. I find it difficult to carry on.
If I had an ear to confide in, I would cry among my treasured friend, but who do you know that stops that long, to help another carry on. The world moves fast and it would rather pass by. Then to stop and see what makes one cry, so painful and sad. And sometimes I Cry and no one cares about why.
Free research essays on topics related to: rap music, freedom of speech, rap artists, gangster rap, tupac shakur
Research essay sample on Freedom Of Speech Tupac Shakur
