In light of Nas recently speaking at Georgetown, discussions about the significance of rap have picked up substantially. Many believe that rap’s lyrics should be openly taught, regarding the genre as an art form with literary merit. As Michael E. Dyson said during his conversation with Nas in Gaston Hall last week, “Just as we study a Homer, we study a Nas.”
Rap music appeals to a very large part of the population, especially within the younger generations; however for a multitude of reasons, teaching and analyzing the lyrics wholesale could be detrimental to society. The nature of the music is not conducive to being analyzed by the masses and should not be accepted as scholarly discourse.
While it is clear many rappers have developed expansive vocabularies and complex rhyming schemes, the words themselves are far too explicit to be worthy of study. The constant profanities are an obstacle in themselves, and the subjects they broach are not any easier to stomach. Misogynist ideas and sexist terms run rampantly through rap and hip-hop songs. Drug use, illegal violence, monetary gains and material success are glorified. Racism is an overarching subject. Egotism is irrationally overt. Each one of these themes is harmful to society, either based on its action — such as illegal violence — or because of the repercussions of it — egotism propagates selfish people.
It is understandable that these topics are derived from situations in reality, and it is true that many of the rappers are regrettably well versed in these criteria. But what can students learn from such obscenities? It is commendable to study anyone’s struggle from the bottom to the top of society, but the manner in which rappers convey their journey is not conducive to study. It reinforces these values, of being sexist, egotistic and material-driven to the audience.
Without a doubt, this form of music has enthralled a tremendous number of people, but why? Does this mean that a vast majority of people can relate to the themes? Does it have more to do with the provocative sounds and beats? The popularity and open encouragement of the immoral and defiling antics so often discussed in rap suggests society is more accepting of this behavior. Constant exposure to this lifestyle, vicariously through the music, has led to desensitization. Societies change over time; long ago, Shakespearean literature was regarded as promiscuous. Yet, if one truly listens to the constant themes and jargon of rap, can it be held in the same light? Are the explicitly foul terms now growing to be acceptable enough to be taught in classrooms in the same manner that Homer is?
Rap is not to be dismissed as a social movement; its popularity confirms there are people who believe in its various themes. Many defend the genre by citing systemic problems that hip-hop artists have serious validity to their claims. Those who feel cheated or violated use music to express their status and dissatisfaction with the system working against them.
However, this reality of those who do not have a voice in society must be expressed in more civil ways. The messages in rap songs, while perhaps true, are too explicit and far too vulgar to validate rap as a means of communication and an area of study. This dissention must be conveyed with much less provocative cultural tendencies, so the true thoughts of the movement can be correctly spread to the others who do not embrace these explicit cultural values.
It is hard to argue the merit of rap music based on the lyrics, as there is little intrinsic value to the words themselves and what they allegedly teach. However, the larger, more significant issue is about this social and cultural movement toward accepting, encouraging and potentially preaching rap. Rappers enjoy prominent social status, and when those artists become as socially significant as classical heroes, such as Homer, it brings to question our modern values and morality in general.
JERRY D. RASSIAS is a sophomore in the College.