Rhetorical Analysis on Hip Hop

By William Rose
In the essays The Social Significance of Rap & Hip Hop Culture by
Becky Blanchard and How Hip-Hop Destroys the Potential of Black Youth,
two different viewpoints are expressed towards how Hip Hop affects the
black community and teenagers. In these two essays, the authors show that
they are aware what Hip Hop does in our community. They both agree that
Hip Hop can be negative but express different solutions.
In the essay the Social significance of Rap Hip Hop Culture Becky
Blanchard says that if rap music appears to be excessively violent when
compared to country-western or popular rock, it is because rap stems from a
culture that has been seeped in the fight against political, social, and
economic oppression. Blanchards is explaining why artists use those
explicit lyrics because its the way they grew up, thats all they saw. Is it
justifiable to condemn ones culture by condemning the lyrics?
In Jeffrey Hickss essay he is opposing Becky Blanchard claim, he
argues that It is the defiance of mainstream life that is at the root of much
of the underachievement now plaguing black youth. Jeffrey Hicks claims
that rap music is one of the major problems in the black community. Hiphop lyrics involve recurring themes of braggadocio to the extent that one can
only wonder if it overcompensation for inadequacy is it right to compare
hip-hop music to the unsuccessfulness in the black community?
In another claim by Becky Blanchard, she argues the violence and
misogyny and lustful materialism that characterize some rap songs are as
deeply American as the hokey music that rapper appropriate. The fact is, this

country was in love with outlaws and crime and violence long before hiphop. The author is claiming that America has always been fascinated by
criminal before hip hop starter.
In addition to that, Becky Blanchard also says The American
experience has been shaped by the legacies of slavery, segregation, and
economic and political subjugation, and has been marked by institution and
incidents of violence. From a reader's perspective it seems Blanchard is
trying to demonstrate that Americans are immune to violence since it so
much of it is in history, for example slavery and segregation movements
were some violent times in American history. How do you take this statement
from her?
In a claim by Jeffrey Hicks he explains another reason How Hip Hop
Destroys the Potential of Black Youth to him, Sadly, even when hip-hop
devotees do take positive steps and attempt to enter the mainstream job
market, they often find themselves devoid of the skills necessary for the best
career paths It is only natural for these young people to see no harm in
applying for a job with unsightly cornrows, baggy clothing and using less-that
acceptable English. Hicks is claiming that hip hop music is negatively
influencing teenagers to wear inappropriate clothes like baggy jeans to job
interviews. Does hip-hop have a negative influence on the way black
teenagers dress themselves?
Author Becky Blanchard gives us a reason why rappers are using
explicit lyrics, she says Violence in rap, and in other forms of selfexpression, is the manifestation of a feeling of hopelessness and discontent
in Americas working class, especially working-class minority communities.
Here she is explaining how poverty and rap music relate to each other,
where there is high poverty there is high crime and thats what these rappers
talk about in their lyrics, it can be graphic but it what they are use to in their

communities. Is hip hop music is way to demonstrate issues in the black

neighborhoods?
Jeffrey Hicks continues to oppose hip hop music, he gives a new reason
how hip hop destroys the potential of black youth he says Hip Hop also
promotes the accumulation of gaudy symbols of success and to get them
fast. When young men prance around with their ostentatious bling, they
illustrate their worthiness to the opposite sex. Materialism becomes a means
for winning sexual conquest Here Hicks is demonstrating how rappers use
material things like money and jewelry to meet their sexual desires. Hicks
thinks that young people should not listen to this nor think this way. Does the
materialistic things rappers talk about propagandize the minds of young
people?
In one final claim by Becky Blanchard, she asks her audience a
question, is music regulation worth censorship of artists, especially when it
targets certain genres, such as rap? Then she states A system that would
regulate the lyrical content of music would hurt rappers and their audiences
and further weaken raps ability to reflect and express the true concerns of
inner-city working-class youth. Becky is explaining to us that if you regulate
rap music, it is taking away the truthfulness in our society that we need
know. Should hip hop music should be regulated? Will it prove anything?
In a final claim In Jeffrey Hicks essay How Hip-Hop Destroys the
Potential of Black Youth he tells his audience about the black and Arab riots
in France, he says It is no surprise that angry and underprivileged youth In
Europe, Africa and Asia are now enthusiastically embracing hip-hop. HipHop culture was intertwined in last years violent rioting of black and Arab
youth. Recall how the rioters dressed and conducted themselves in a thuglike manner, as well as the hip hop music they blasted while torching
vehicles and property. Here it seems he is explaining another reason how

hip-hop and violence correlate. In your opinion didi rap music cause the riots
in France?
To conclude I feel that Becky Blanchard did gave a stronger argument
with her essay, I think she gave more logical information along with some
reasoning behind it. I think she really gave her essay some thought because
she brought up a few points that I thought wouldnt be related to her essay
topic, for example she compared slavery with rap music, people that posses
the same opinion like Jeffrey such as hip-hop music is destructive, she
explains top them that violence has always appeared in American history
long before hip-hop.

Sources: How Hip Hop Destroys the Potential

of Black Youth by Jeffrey Hicks and The
Social Significance of Rap& Hip Hop Culture