Now let's get off this negative tip and go positive...

Gonna hit you with some different perspectives:


Check it:
Hip-hop: Negative Effects on Today's Youth
This article may have a point, however, the writer appears to have a fairly limited grasp on Hip Hop. He fails to differentiate between the mainstream and the underground - the former being validated by the trends of music industry, the latter being validated by Hip Hop itself - and thus places no blame at the door of the record labels themselves who favour materialistic, chauvinistic, highly-sexualised, and violent music. The reason for this is that it sells. So why doesn't he blame the kids who persist in buying it?



Now check this:
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes

The whole documentary is dope, but for the purposes of this post watch 40:50 - 44:15.... The demand and pressure from the record industry for violent and sexual imagery prevents young emcees from writing positive lyrics, no matter how much they may want to. Like Jadakiss says, "nobody wanna hear that s*** no more..."


Lastly:

The global reach of hip-hop

Without over-romanticising Hip Hop's gritty aesthetic, this article highlights Hip Hop's positive global impact and applicability to marginalised people. Regardless of the negative mainstream image that is associated with it, when Hip Hop manifests dynamic narratives in response to disillusionment, suffering, frustration, or injustice, it has the power to entertain, empower, inspire and liberate.