In recent years, the influence of rappers on popular culture has become more pronounced than ever before. With their music reaching millions of listeners worldwide, it is undeniable that rappers have a significant impact on shaping the values, attitudes, and behaviors of their fans.
Young people, in particular, often look up to these artists as role models, emulating their fashion, language, and attitudes.
The repeated mentions of drugs, partying, and excessive substance use in songs, music videos, and social media posts have desensitized audiences to the potential dangers and consequences of such behaviors. This normalization can lead to the impressionable minds of the younger generation perceiving drug use as a normative behavior.
When impressionable minds are repeatedly exposed to images and messages glorifying drug use, it can shape their perception of what is acceptable and expected behavior.
Moreover, the romanticization of drugs in rap music can lead to curiosity, experimentation, and potentially the development of substance abuse issues. Vulnerable individuals may believe that drugs are a means to achieve success, cope with emotional struggles, or gain acceptance within their social circles. The consequences can be devastating, including addiction, physical and mental health problems, and even legal issues.
Rappers themselves in this new generation were influenced by not only the old generation of rap music but by their environment. Living in the ”ghetto”, ”hood” where the living conditions are not confortable, certain sides of life become normalized: drug abuse, killing, raping, gang culture… . Rappers in their lyrics describe themselves; descibe their life and their struggle and for this they are praud of their humble beginning.
Many impressionable minds nevertheless might arrive to the misleading conclusion that success is interlinked with that kind of struggle; they might think drugs, lean ,guns and ”baby mamas” are the right formula to achieve success, while in reality these rappers,” idols”made their success despite all of the distractions. they are nothing more then glamorized rich and famous drug addicts.