Paper Summary:

This paper examines the rise of rap music from its beginnings to its current broad appeal. The paper also gives a background of black gospel music, describing its history and popularity. The author then turns back to rap music, citing a study about who listens to rap and what the audience's opinions are on specific social issues that they feel are addressed through this genre of music. The paper also denounces several myths about rap and its lyrics. Finally, the paper explores whether whites who listen to rap may be less racist. The paper includes a questionnaire about rap music.

From the Paper:

" Although rap is presently receiving a great deal of notoriety, black music has long been a part of American culture. Gospel music, for example, has defined black identity for generations and continues to do so. "Black gospel music is one of the new seminal genres of contemporary black culture which continually maintains its self-identity while it nourishes and enriches the mainstream of the world's cultural sources" (William-Jones 373). Black gospel music, a combination of West African and Afro-American music, dance, poetry and drama, includes contemporary black religious music of rural folk origins that celebrates the Christian experience of salvation and hope (William-Jones 376). For much of its 50 years as an underground form of music, gospel still remains among the least known or understood of many black cultural expressions today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aaron, C. 1998. .Black Like Them. Spin Magazine
• Farley, C. 1999. .Hip-Hop Nation. Time, February 8.
• Goff, J.R. 2002. Close Harmony. Greenboro: University of North Carolina Press.
• Jackson-Brown, I. 1990. Developments in black gospel performance and scholarship. 10(1) Black Music Research Journal: 36-42.
• Lusane, C.1993. .Rap, Race and Politics. Race and Class 35(1):41-56.

Visitors who viewed this Research Paper also liked these:

• Cause and Effect Essay # 120856 : "Rap Music and Society"
• Essay # 70136 : "Rap Music and Violence"
• Comparison Essay # 5855 : "Rap Music"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: