Gangsta Rap: An anthropolohical overview

In the ghetto gangsta rap and hip hop sub-culture that has become so prevalent today, Africa-American youths are often portrayed as being violent, disruptive, sex-crazed, misogynist criminals. Critics decry the negative effects ghetto cultures have placed upon contemporary mainstream society. Hip hop artists and music have been blamed for the increase in crime, insubordinations at educational institutions, exploiting and disrespecting women, and overall street violence. However, in reality, through this genre the urban youth hip …

…rock artist as the Byrds, Doors, the Eagles, Van Halen, and Guns `N' Roses. Today, teenagers are blasting rap music from such artist as Jay Z and Outkast.4 According to the Recording Industry Association of America, rock music accounted for 32.5 percent of the industry's $12.3 billion in sales during 1997. But this figure is down from 46.2 percent a decade ago. Meanwhile rap music's share of sales has increased 150% over the last ten years and is still rising.5