Rap music glamorizes drug use: study
04/02/2008 11:00 AM, Reuters
Brooks Boliek

Rap music has increasingly glamorized the use of illegal drugs, portraying marijuana, crack and cocaine as symbols of wealth and status, according to a new study by the journal Addiction Research & Theory.

The report found that rap artists had moved away from the lyrics of the early days of the genre when they often warned against the dangers of substance abuse.

"This study showed that in fact much early rap music either did not talk about drugs at all, or when it did had anti-drug messages," said Denise Herd, of the University of California at Berkeley, who headed the research team.

"So intrinsically rap music is not necessarily associated with these themes," she added.

After sampling 341 lyrics from rap music's most popular hits between 1979 and 1997, the researchers found references to drugs had increased six-fold over that period.

Of the 38 most popular songs between 1979 and 1984, only four contained drug references. But by the late 1980s the incidence had increased to 19 percent, and after 1993 nearly 70 percent of rap songs mentioned drug use.

Lyrics describing drug use have not only became more frequent but the context changed from concern about the devastation of drugs to a more positive portrayal.

For example, Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines," recorded in 1983, warns cocaine does nothing except "killin' your brain," but more recent tunes by popular rappers such as 50 Cent's "As the World Turns" refers to cocaine and heroin as positive things.

"This is an alarming trend, as rap artists are role models for the nation's youth, especially in urban areas," Herd said.

She added that much of what is discussed in rap is in code.

"The kids understand but parents don't," Herd explained in an interview.

The word "flinging," for example, means selling drugs. Some slang words for marijuana include "broccoli," "trees" and "chronic." "Fat sacks" and "strapped horns" refer to cocaine smoking pipes, according to the study.

Studies have shown rap music is one of the fastest-growing genres in American pop culture today and plays a prominent role in youth culture.

"I think society has some responsibility to give kids some alternatives to the glamorized view of drugs they see in this music," Herd said. "There are solutions that go beyond the family and home, and a lot rests with us as an American society in general."

Reuters/Nielsen


Yeah I think parents should let their child listen to more meaningful songs from BRITNEY SPEARS

Ok, but so have many other genres. Get off of Rap's dick.

Mainstream rap usually sucks no matter what they talk about.

Aesop Rock is where it's at.

As long as it's clean at least regarding the children who listen to anything. I don't think it's just rap that might have this situation.

I'm kinda surprised to find this out Angelo, but I do believe it quite a bit. Since 1993 70% of the rap songs have mentioned drug use? That's alarming.

Oh and don't believe what 50 says.

^ Maybe children must listen to paula deanda! Her lyrics are deep!

It's pretty funny that Rap music is being spotlighted when most of Rock culture in general is arguably worse. Maybe the title of this story should be "Music glamorizes drug use: study"

That lyric is a masterpiece Avril "the artist of the decade" lavigne really puts her heart on it.

at least SHE doesn't mention any kind of drugs in her songs.

Yeah she is so underrated she could be the next artist of the millennium like Mariah CArey

There is no way she'll reach Mariah's status. Paula hasn't hit #1 yet so it's unfair to say that.

^ #1 Bubbling Under "Easy"


Study your history

Music in general glamorizes drug use. If you use drugs because lyrics in a song "glamorize" it, then you are an idiot.

CLASSIC hip-hop right there.

But most rock songs don't even mention drugs so it's a moot point

You're either joking or ignorant. Your choice.

Hinder - Get Stoned
Cracker - Low
Various songs by Sublime, (hed)p.e. and Kottonmouth Kings
Three Days Grace - (I Hate) Everything About You
Korn - Helmet in the Bush (it doesn't glorify the use of speed or meth, but still)
Korn - Blind (see above)

Mike, no.

Rap is still worse though.

LMFAO!

Rap isn't any worse, it just happens that the songs that glamorize drugs get more commercial exposure..let's act like we knew this already.