Rap Artists Focus Heavily on Race in Music and Music Videos

Question: Discuss why rap artists focus heavily on race in music and music videos. Answer: Introduction Over the years there have been number of research on content analysis of rap music and music videos. These researches have mainly focused on the controversial contents of music mainly used by rappers and hip hop music artists. The present report will take an opportunity to discuss why rappers and singers use race and racialisation as the subject for music making and underpin the study with relevant discussion. Discuss why rap artists focus heavily on race in music and music videos For over a long period of time scholars have worked on the content analysis of rap songs and music videos that have used race as its mainstay. Race and racism has been a key aspect for rappers and their songs to delineate the constant atrocities on black folks. Some of the renowned rappers of contemporary music have showed their discontent and displayed their pain about the differentiation made between people only based on color. Their songs and lyrics have reflected their agony for black men (Conrad et al., 2009 p, 36). The legacy of slavery and racialisation has been the core subject for their lyrics and their music. For instance the song by Project Pat I Aint Goin Back To Jail shows how easily racism can take hold of men especially black men. Over the years black people have served as slaves and have worked in other inferior positions making them the inferior class of people by default. These rappers and hip hop singers mostly use them since it becomes a purely saleable music. The song by Beanie Sigel What Ya Life Like shows that how race has always been a matter of controversy and how the superior races feed on inferior races (Cooky et al., 2010 p, 51). Yes, it directly indicates that white men have always tamed the black race and the constant turmoil between both these races emanate as the essence of rap music. It could be said that it is a way of protesting that rappers like Beanie Sigel, Project Pat, Slick Rick have taken up to display their understanding of racism and also to sale music which unequivocally is not the sole purpose (Turner, 2011 p, 65). Conclusion It has been seen that over the years the usage of the concept of race has only increased as most of the rap singers have sold their music using race as the pillar for their music. The present study has tried to discuss its reasons and have tried to give a clear view on this aspect. Overall it could be said that the study has been able to cover the objectives and hence it has helped to complete the study successfully. References Conrad, K., Dixon, T. L., Zhang, Y. (2009). Controversial rap themes, gender portrayals and skin tone distortion: A content analysis of rap music videos.Journal of Broadcasting Electronic Media,53(1), 134-156. Cooky, C., Wachs, F. L., Messner, M., Dworkin, S. L. (2010). Its not about the game: Don Imus, race, class, gender and sexuality in contemporary media.Sociology of Sport Journal,27(2), 139-159. Turner, J. S. (2011). Sex and the spectacle of music videos: An examination of the portrayal of race and sexuality in music videos.Sex Roles,64(3-4), 173-191.