Rap Music Is Appropriate for Children and Teens

I look forward to seeing the results. 'Bona fortuna', and may the best debater win. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . "These are the facts of life. In fact many people are exposed to certain themes early on, and rap music is art that helps express and reflect on their experience. " "Many of the same arguments from above apply. I'd also like to note that rappers are entertainers and do not necessarily live the lifestyle they rap about. " As you can see in the first statement, Pro states that rap lyrics clearly reflect the lives and experiences that the rappers have been through, but the next statement is completely contrary to that. In statement two, Pro says that they do NOT necessarily rap about their life and the experiences they've been through. Are the lyrics truthful or are they not? . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "For instance, while Con considers those lyrics to be glorifying a life on the streets, I have always thought the complete opposite and took it as a reinforcement to be thankful for how lucky I am to NOT be in that situation. I see them talking about that lifestyle as something unfortunate and to be avoided. Can con provide evidence of rappers promoting contrary? " But does this make it true for other people? And yes, in fact, I can. Please go to the following link and read the first post, by user "Gurbik" [1]: . http://www.narutoforums.com... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "Rap music is far from being the only genre which uses profanity or adult themes. For instance, one of rock legends' Ac/Dc's most famous songs is called Big Balls [1]. Sometimes songs are less subtle but still have mature themes. Lady Gaga's chart topping pop song "Poker Face" is a song about being able to keep a poker face on so that she can be with a man, but fantasize about a woman [2]. In other words, there are questionable lyrics and themes across ALL music genres, so it's unfair and non-sensical to single out rap specifically. Even country songs curse [3]. If you say rap is inappropriate because of the language and content they use, then this must extend across all genres. " The following link will thoroughly explain my point: . http://answers.yahoo.com... [4] Yes, profanity may be found in genres such as rap, but no genre has as much or uses it as much as rap. The artist 2Pac recorded a song called, "Hit Em' Up", in which he is said to have repeated the F. Word approx. 49 times. Give me a song, from a different genre, that uses a word like that as many times as that song [5]. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "Many of the same arguments from above apply. I'd also like to note that rappers are entertainers and do not necessarily live the lifestyle they rap about. Eminem for instance talks about killing people in many of his songs [6], yet if those lyrics were remotely true he would have been in jail a long time ago. Likewise, actors who kill in the moves do not necessarily exemplify the traits they personify on screen for entertainment value. Con doesn't mention that celebrities of every kind are not always the perfect role models. " The lyrics do not have to be, as you said, "remotely true". Kids here these lyrics, and they start getting these ideas of killing people also. Words are like parts of a picture, and songs build up one big picture. Some kids will look at this "picture", if you will, and will look at it with disgust. Others will look, and keep on staring, undecided whether to think bad of it or not. They keep on thinking of it, it keeps on returning to them, and they seem incapable of letting it go until they find out for themselves how it would feel to be the one in that "picture" (Mind you, I am speaking in metaphorical terms. ) . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . You may argue that the parents would tell their kids not to listen to the music if they truly do not want their children exposed to it. You may argue that the kid(s) will know right from wrong and will know not to commit the crimes that the rappers rap about in their songs. "Up until 13 years old, children do not have the capacity to form their own opinions, and they depend on their parents to decipher all information for them. " , said Dr. John Gray, a family therapist. He says that when a kid turns into a teenager, they start thinking abstractly, and they start thinking for themselves. This is a big part of the reason why teenagers are known for their rebellious attitude toward their parents, or their "hot blood", if you will [2]. Sites Used: [1] . http://www.narutoforums.com... [2] . http://www.parentingteensonline.com... [3] . http://www.webmd.com... [4] . http://answers.yahoo.com... [5] . http://answers.yahoo.com...