Hip hop identity in a township reality. - Poppunt

most cases they refer to the media as a major factor in the popularity of gangsta rap
and its attractiveness to young people. The media spend much attention to gangsta
rappers and are very eager to give them a platform. Instead of promoting people
who write songs containing positive and conscientious lyrics, they promote gangsta
rappers. This is probably due to the fact that they can make a lot of money from it,
since rap music has become big business with a lot more to sell than only CD’s;
today it seems that every self-respecting rapper needs to have his/her own clothing
or shoe range. This also causes the negative image that hip hop has for a lot of
people, because these are the only kind of rappers that they are presented with.
Some of our interviewees indicate other factors that should prevent us from
exaggerating the guilt of gangsta rap for all what goes wrong in this world. Mayja
says it is normal for youths to go through a phase where they want to imitate their
idol. Bad Luck also points to the responsibility of the listeners themselves. They
should be careful with the interpretations they make. In Compton L.A. there might
be a lot of killings, but if there would be a murder for every ‘I’ll kill you’ in a rap
song, it would be rather empty by now. Just to say, “you do not have to take
everything literally, there is also the poetic licence”, which is not only applicable to
hip hop, but also to the Bible or to Nick Caves ‘Murder Ballads’. In this respect Bad
Luck also points to the responsibility of the parents who should keep a better
control over what their children are listening to.
3. Conclusion
What strikes us most in our findings, is the fact that all of our interviewees
approached this matter of gangsta rap quite subtly and thoughtfully. As we have
already mentioned, rap music and especially gangsta rap, is often the subject of
controversy. Nevertheless, our interviewees do not let themselves be talked into a
black-and-white point of view, although we always asked the rather biased
question: ‘Do you not think that gangsta rap has a bad influence on young people?’.
Although none of our interviewees relate in any way to the lifestyle described in
gangsta rap songs, they do not perceive it as having an all around bad influence.
They all live in violent and disadvantaged neighbourhoods and they all write stories
about it, but focus on different elements. Most of them are convinced that gangsta
rap can have a possible negative influence on young children, because gangsta
rappers are mostly portrayed as living an extremely luxurious life, which suggests
that crime gets rewarded in the end.