Pure Rap

Should the government censor lyrics of songs that are violent or expletive, for example “gangsta” rap?

So......Gangsta rap encourages listeners to criminality. This is so on two levels. First, it sometimes uses language that actively incites crime, for example encouraging weapons use, spousal abuse or homophobic attacks. Secondly, it glorifies a lifestyle that is rich with imagery of criminality (e.g. gun use and drug dealing) and this sends out a subconscious but consistent message affirming criminality.???? or....Gangsta rap is a form of entertainment like any other. Some of its purveyors may use words or imagery that portrays certain criminal acts, but that is because they reflect the culture from which it spawned. Critics miss the subtleties of rap music, in which the rapper often takes on a particular persona in a song and so does not necessarily endorse the views or actions it portrays; rap fans are well aware of these ambiguities. Violence and criminality are also endemic in other forms of entertainment, for example opera and classic films often contain large-scale killing and violence. Trying to link gangsta rap to crime is singling it out amongst entertainment forms for political reasons. Would heavy metal, with its comparable content, be picked on instead if it were the music of a black urban underclass? What do you think! Thanks1

Public Comments

1. nope i listen to this music
2. Agree Sky SteveC
3. Freedom of speech. If you don't like the music, and I use the term ever so lightly, don't listen to it. I don't.
4. Basicly if you dont like the music dont listen. Back in the day they said listen to Ozzie Osborn would make me committ sucide and listening to other heavy metal bands was a sign of the devil and i would go wild and kill everyone. Most kids know that this is just talk and really dont take it seriously.
5. I don't like the glorifying of drugs, violence and all that crap but we are in america and it's freedom of speech. The number one movie at the moment is Dark Knight. I've heard is violent and dark but would you be willing to ban that too? If someone doesn't like to music turn of the radio.
6. I don't agree with censorship. I think parents should take a more active role in finding out what their kids listen to and why, and teach kids right from wrong waaaaay before they start listening to "gangsta rap". Personally, I like my music a bit more singable.
7. Censorship is wrong. Parents who did a lousy job of raising their children like to blame anybody but themselves. I'd like to think that I raised my kids to know right from wrong, and they couldn't be "encouraged to criminality".
8. Personally, I don't think that rappers should be censored. It's free speech. I'm much more concerned about it's accessibility though. kids shouldn't get and able to listen to it.
9. I don't agree with censoring. as much as one may not like the lyrics you still can't censor them. then where do you stop? movies, books, speech? just don't listen to the songs.
10. no, the people should censor it by not buying ''crap'' music