Clash of Subgenres
Rap made it to the public audience in the late 1970's and by the late 1980's subgenres were already created. "In 1989, rap music changed drastically when a gangster rap group appeared on the scene and altered the message of the music. Gangster rappers’ lyrics contained explicit depictions of violence, drug use, and urban gang life. These lyrics even expressed hostility toward Caucasians, women, and civil authority. Gangster rappers sent brazen messages of disobedience and defiance that produced negative reactions in teens" [3].
There are over 20 subgenres of rap/hip hop, yet the genre as a whole has adopted the perceived characteristics of this one small division. This reputation is what scares most people away from the genre which is unfair because those types of songs only make up a very small portion of the rap songs. In other words, people should never assume these characteristics when they hear the word "rap," the genre is undeserving.
There are over 20 subgenres of rap/hip hop, yet the genre as a whole has adopted the perceived characteristics of this one small division. This reputation is what scares most people away from the genre which is unfair because those types of songs only make up a very small portion of the rap songs. In other words, people should never assume these characteristics when they hear the word "rap," the genre is undeserving.