Discussion Question 5

I think this question is a highly debatable issue. I think that hip hop probably does have some influence on the rate of crime and violence in urban America, but it is not the only factor. Just because rap artists rap about their guns and killing eachother doesn't mean people should take these lyrics to heart and copy what is being said. The Columbine Shooting comes to mind when I think about this issue as the kids responsible for the shooting blamed their actions on the music they listened to and more specifically, Marilyn Mason. I don't think that the type of music they were listening to had anything to do with them committing such a violent crime. I think what needs to be questioned is the peoples' sanity or insanity who have commited such crimes. How do you think the plea of Marilyn Mason's music influenced me to commit these crimes would hold up in a court room? Or the plea that, well this rapper sings about shooting others so I thought I could do the same. That is not going to hold up in the courtroom, or atleast I don't think that plea should hold up. I think that some people need to realize that they can't take everything that rappers sing about so literally and that it is just a form of expression.