Violence & Values

Hip-hop will never stay the same; it always has and always will change over time. In past years the main focus of hip-hop was status: how much money you had, what kind of cars you drove, or how much jewelry you had. Hip-hop hasn’t exactly departed from the talk of these subjects but the definition of status has changed. Rappers now talk about how many guns they have, drugs they’ve sold, and people they’ve killed.

Violence in hip-hop isn’t something new to genre. Groups like N.W.A. exemplified what life was like in Compton to the casual hip-hop listener. The depictions they gave in their songs were very straightforward and included scenes of violence. When artists like N.W.A. came onto the scene rapping about violence it was brand new and different; they were being genuine with their audience.

The same appeal is seen with hip-hop today. Artists are rapping violently and are being prided on their realness. For example, the song “Russian Roulette” by Fat Trel & Chief Keef is about how both they and their squads are respected in Chicago and D.C. This was an early song from Chief Keef that helped make him very popular. “I got money, I got power, got respect with this tech. My niggas out here wildin’ playin’ Russian roulette…Russian roulette, with niggas’ heads.” With lyrics like these it’s almost baffling as to how lyrics like this can make an artist popular.

This violent music for one reason or another has become the face of hip-hop for many, but this type of music does not define the genre. Although it seems as though there is an overwhelming amount of rappers rapping violently there still are rappers out there who rap about different material. Rappers like Asher Roth have always had a positive message, like in his song “Pearly Gates,” [1] “Kids eat your vegetables, stretch, wear your SPF. Give 110%, work until there’s nothing left.” Asher Roth hasn’t necessarily had radio success but he’s a well-respected and well-liked rapper in the rap community.

It seems as though violent rappers’ excuse for their subject matter is that they rap about what they see, and what’s in their lives. In my opinion it is excusable to write songs about violence if that is a major component of your life, but there are rappers who go through the same adversity but rap with a less negative message. Chance the Rapper is a good example of this. In his song “Paranoia” off his latest mixtape Acid Rap he illustrates the ghettos of Chicago. He details the violence in the city without him getting violent himself.

These rappers who rap violently definitely do not give off a positive message of give hip-hop a good image, but that doesn’t mean all of these rappers do not have values. Rapper Chief Keef has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons of late; Keef may be one of the most violent rappers out now. He also is a scapegoat for a lot of violence, especially in Chicago. He’s been to jail, he’s been involved in shootings, but it’s unfair to blame him for a whole generation of violence. A few days ago, a 2 year-old was beaten to death, in Chicago, by her own father. Chief Keef has since released a statement saying that he would pay for her funeral.

Rap overall has increased in violent content but who knows where it’ll go from here. Values seem to have taken a backseat to shock value. While the more violent rappers seem to be getting more media attention, there are rappers out there who are striving to improve the image of the hip-hop industry.


1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3srGPJKuYdM
2. http://www.vibe.com/article/chief-keef-pay-funeral-slain-chicago-two-year-old