Hello,

I dont mean to be negative.

but I think that is a very weak area to base an essay around,

I dont think it would be impossible to write a decent interesting essay,

but the link between racism & rap music is really an oddball idea that many people would feel does not exist at all.

I think there could be some interesting things to research in that area, such as the use of extremely visceral violent, racist, criminal, sexist/sexual, anti-gay etc - lyrics becoming completley socially acceptable through popular "black" corporate music (rap)

For example if a white group made music about murdering , robbing & raping - I dont think it would be that well received!

You could research the evolution of early hip-hop to "gangsta-rap" and the evolution of "gangsta-rap" to the hugeley corporate world of american popular music in the mid 90's to present. where "black" or rap music is the number one form of popular chart topping music in america.

You could try and research attitudes in white smalltown america toward NY/LA rooted "black" music which is almost always graphically sexual/criminal or violent.

you could see if some people frown upon this, and find prejudices against black people through it.

Like I said, you have a lot of hard work ahead of you if you choose that route.

Maybe you could choose something easier such as rap music = gun crime?

I think this is a topic that can quickly turn into a debate. Rap and racism to me has a hidden connection from  the social political point of view. The line is drawn clearly between the X generation and the one before. In addition, it has much to do with one’s religious background and social stand. I am almost certain for I know no one with conservative mind and Christianity belief will listen to Raps in general, let alone gangster raps. The profanity, the body language, the suggestive movement, the exposed female bodies and the hood attitude are deliberately choreographed to arouse the young minds. What is perplexing is that the white rappers were making it to big time status in the rap audience. Eminem is a good example.

There are hard-core raps and milder variety. But personally, I would not agree it should be called music. It doesn’t take a genius to write the lyrics of a rap song. As to the music, well, what music!

Going back to the question whether there is a connection between rap and racism, I personally feel this way. There is a certain stigma with rap. If we watch MTV or any music channel on TV, we soon will notice almost all the rap “artists” are African Americans and if we still remember, 2pack and many other rap artists who were killed by violent gun fires. It’s the behavior and life style portrayed in the rap video that made the image of black people which has by itself does not benefit the race and the lyrics and portrayal reinforced the image. There is much more than meets the eyes, but I strongly feel there is a certain stigma it rappers. There is no doubt raps do play a role in racism, as just the same with  white rockers are weed smoking and dope heads 

 ,,'res','7','')" href="http://blogs.chron.com/texassparkle/2006/05/the_violence_continuesanother.html">TexasSparkle: The Violence Continues--Another Rapper Shot and Killed

 He is one of a long line of rappers shot and killed. Run-DMC rapper Jam .. The same held true for the rock era, the Brat Pack, even for Beethoven, Bach, ...
blogs.chron.com/texassparkle/2006/05/the_violence_continuesanother.html - 75k - ,,'clnk','7','')" href="http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:MszFKJnvxQIJ:blogs.chron.com/texassparkle/2006/05/the_violence_continuesanother.html+2+pack+,rapper+killed&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us">Cached - Similar pages