Over the last decade, rap music has become increasingly synonymous with youth culture. What originated as a tool for political advocacy among African-Americans, to resist slavery, has evolved into one of the most popular music genres in the world.
Rap music may have emerged as an authentic reflection of black culture, but racial slurs are still routinely employed in its lyrics. In fact, the ‘n’ word is the third most-used word across all songs in this genre, and is uttered approximately 104 times per 10,000 words!
In light of recent and rampant social unrest regarding racism, we must ask ourselves an extremely important question: Is rap music normalising racial slurs and propagating racist culture?
The true meaning of derogatory terms is dampened by how frequently and casually they are used, desensitizing people towards its impact. While White Americans were responsible for the enslavement of numerous black people, many do not understand the weight of such a word, even when it is used centuries later.
70% to 80% of people who buy rap music are white, and 60% are teenagers. When dealing with such an impressionable and fanatical audience that tends to idolise artists and imitate their behaviours, can white fans be blamed for repeating lyrics as they are written? Perhaps the vulnerability and relatability of music makes them susceptible to such an act, causing them to ignore the consequences of this dehumanising word.
Moreover, the usage of racial slurs by black rappers creates a prominent double standard at live performances. Numerous white fans have been chastised by their idols at concerts for simply repeating lyrics as they were written. Is it not hypocritical for rappers to aspire to have a global audience, but also expect certain communities to consume their music differently?
Many black artists believe that they are entitled to use such words, while people of other races are not. Numerous black people have co-opted these slurs as terms of endearment for their fellow African-Americans. They view it as taking a weapon that oppressed them for generations and embracing it, thus robbing it of its destructive power.
While the psychology behind this act is understandable, its mission has not been completely successful, since the ‘n’ word is still unfathomably destructive and hurtful. The US is the epicenter of both racism and rap culture today. Could Black America’s most powerful tool of expression also be aggravating one of their biggest issues?
To finally address the question, “Should these slurs be used in music at all?” The one-sided notion that a word is only racist when a white person says it is essentially flawed. Any subjectivity in matters of racism needs to be eliminated, and racial slurs should either be termed not offensive for everyone to use, or too offensive for anyone to use. While connotations differ with ethnicity due to historical context, from an ideal musical perspective, no discriminatory forces should exist in how different fans may appreciate music. As an expressive art, music is meant to unite people by relating to them, and gives people the freedom to channel their emotions through performance. The usage of a word should not dilute someone’s musical experience or creative pursuits.
