Abstract
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."

Tags:rap, music, African-American, culture, gospel, music, black, music

Abstract
This paper examines how rap music has changed people's behavior in different societies. It discusses how music can change human behavior, the effects of rap on teenagers and the criticisms of gangster rap.

From the Paper
"According to an article by Kevin Took and David Weiss published in "Adolescence", although there has been concern about the negative effects of music on human behavior throughout recorded history, public interest in this issue rose sharply with the introduction of rock and roll music. More recently rap music containing explicit lyrics has come to the attention of the public. Despite concerns about the effects of music on adolescent behavior, little research has been done on this subject..."

Tags:rap music, culture, black, stereotype, violence, music, censorship, sex, gangsta rap

Abstract
This paper contains a review of professional literature on the connection between rap music and youth violence. The paper examines the messages of rap music and attempts to determine if stories about the connection between rap music and violence are substantially linked.

From the Paper
"According to an article by Vinette Price published by New York Amsterdam News, two of the biggest names in rap music were murdered six months apart. The blame for their deaths should be placed on the men who..."

Tags:rap music, violence, connections, high risk, gangsta rap

Abstract
This research paper focuses on 3 rap artists who produced negative rap lyrics: Tupac Shakur, Christopher "Notorious BIG" and Ice-T's lyrics. This paper describes the negative influence rap lyrics have on young minds. This paper also shows the negative outcome of these rap artists from their heated lyrics.

From the Paper
"According to data gathered by the Recording Industry Association of America, nearly half of the recordings sold in 1995 (47.3 percent) were purchased by teens, with people over 30 making up 25.1 percent of the buying force. Those older styles of music like jazz and classical constitute a mere 5.9 percent of the music market (Considine 76). Rap music reaches a lot of impressionable young minds. Violence in rap music is very destructive and some rap artists set extremely bad examples to teens and this is why rap lyrics need to have a positive influence. Rap lyrics are blamed for several deadly incidents involving both rap artists and innocent bystanders. Two of raps biggest names, Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, live out their lyrics leading to their deaths. Ice-T's lethal lyrics of his song "Cop Killers" are just about the worst influence a rap artist can have on teens."

Tags:african, american, big, black, childhood, cop, gangster, hood, icet, influence, killer, lyrics, music, musical, negative, profanity, rap, rapper, recordings, shakur, thug, tupac, violence

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at one of the first major successes in rap music-- James Todd Smith, also known as LL Cool J. The writer discusses that his enduring career (now expanded to include a wide range of creative activities) parallels the rise and endurance of rap music itself, a genre that many expected to fade quickly but which has become an important genre in American music.

From the Paper
"This paper is a consideration of one of the first superstars in rap music James Todd Smith performing under the name of LL Cool J. Now a successful film and TV actor and entrepreneur he got his start as one of the very first artists for Def Jam Records a label launched by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin to capitalize on the growing popularity of rap music. Rap also known as hip hop began as a mode of expression for urban African American artists arising out of the ..."

Tags:rap, LL Cool J, James todd Smith, hip hop, music, genre, superstar, Todd Smith, Simmons

Abstract
This paper examines rap music and how it affects African-American culture. It contains excerpts of Frederick Douglass' autobiography
'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass' which discusses slavery. It discusses several terms in rap music such as: Gangsta Rap, obscene language, as well as discusses several Record labels. This paper concludes windfall is based on a tried and true system of degradation like slavery.

From the Paper
"Frederick Douglass in his autobiography, 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass', skillfully illustrates the exploitation and cruelty of the institution of slavery. The degradation and mistreatment visited upon African-Americans continues to this day. The most shocking detail of the ongoing humiliation facing African- Americans is who the facilitators are. The insurgence of the "ghetto" rap music industry continues to uphold the values of the slave owners to the tune of a billion-dollars a year."

Tags:Rap, Music, institution, Frederick, Douglass, African, American, facilitator, industry

Abstract
A paper concerning the effects of rap music and time pressure on reading comprehension. What effects does rap have on reading comprehension? Does time play a factor in the relationship between reading comprehension and rap?

Tags:reading, comprehension, rap

Abstract
The paper argues that we see graphic violence every day in television news, and we go to the movies to be "scared" with slasher movies, ghost stories and all sorts of mayhem, but the audience KNOWS this is all make-believe. The paper contends that gangsta rap, on the other hand, has seen violence erupt because of the lyrics which have caused anti-social behavior, a crime spree, even the killing of a policeman in Texas. The paper asserts that rap also seems to be anti-feminist and anti-society but it is popular more among white males than blacks.

From the Paper
"Graphic violence is seen by millions everyday on television newscasts. For many years, audiences have flocked to movies like "Halloween", "Texas Chain Saw Massacre", the "Freddy Krueger" series, even such "classic" films as "The Wild Bunch" and "Bonnie and Clyde." Video games have kids blasting away, even with parental indulgences. One cannot argue that violence is only a low-brow exercise, since operas have duels, Don Jose stabbing Carmen, Isolde mooning over a poisoned Tristan. However, there is one area that perhaps goes a little too far and causes motivation for people to literally follow the lyrics: rap music."

Tags:gangsta rap, hip hop, misogyny

Abstract
This paper looks at rap music and its influence on today's youth, especially in the black community. It looks at the history of rap music, the lyrics and examines both its proponents and opponents. The lifestyles of the artists themselves are examined, as is the message they send, and the affect they have on their audience, whether intentional, or not.

From the Paper
"However, life often imitates art. Gangsta rap, a type of rap music made most popular by Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, glorifies violence such as murder, rape, and stealing. These two men in particular are role models to millions of young children who saw both of these icons die by way of gun violence. Despite their deaths, rap music continues to portray gang life and violence as something trendy and "cool". Drug use is also constantly glorified - west coast rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre popularized the marijuana leaf in their lyrics; so much so that t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers with the bright green leaves were sold all over the country. I cannot fathom that the promotion of such illegal activities can bring about any positive results. Whether they desire to be or not, these entertainers are role models to young children and older teens. Their influence upon such impressionable minds is being used to desensitize their lives regarding violence, guns, gangs and drug use while glorifying life without a father, living on welfare and spending time in jail."

Tags:hip, hop, ganster, rap, entertainers, shakur, tupac, youth, black, conservative, liberal, lyrics, ganstar, records, society, african, american, nigger, violence, rape

Abstract
The paper argues that rap music deserves to be banned for three main reasons: it gives expression and wide distribution to a nihilistic street culture and does nothing to rebuke that culture and/or to offer youngsters an escape from it; it glorifies violence; and it encourages the mistreatment of African-American women by African-American men. The paper contends that while some might insist that rap music is a "creative" genre that simply captures reality and makes society aware of that reality, its unwillingness to offer solutions and its crude, often vulgar, and frequently violent lyrics glamorize violence without showing how terribly destructive violence is to society at large; the same musical genre likewise casts African-American women in a dim light.

From the Paper
"The following paper will argue that rap music deserves to be banned for three main reasons: it gives expression and wide distribution to a nihilistic street culture and does nothing to rebuke that culture and/or to offer youngsters an escape from it; it glorifies violence; and it encourages the mistreatment of African-American women by African-American men. While some might insist that rap music is a "creative" genre that simply captures reality and makes society aware of that reality, its unwillingness to offer solutions and its crude, often vulgar, and frequently violent lyrics glamorize violence without showing how terribly..."

Tags:rap, music, banned