Hargrove 1

Rap began underground but is now accepted by professionals who want to understand
how it influences youth behavior based on their attitude before listening to this music. It is
proven that, depending on the mood you are in and how much esteem you have in yourself, rap
music can have a negative or positive affect on people.
Some of the negative effects include, but are not limited to, breaking the law, misusing
drugs, degrading women, depression, and low self-esteem. Some of the positive effects of
listening to rap music include, empowerment, higher self-esteem, connecting with your
community, having a positive impact on the community, and inhibiting depression. (Travis and
Bowman) Now, here are examples of the affects, both positive and negative, in some detail.
A noted study indicates that while listening to rap music, Individuals with a favorable
view of their identity: (1) feel better about themselves, (2) want to maintain these affirming
feelings, their sense of well-being, and positive development; and (3) want to maintain positive
connections to the culture and community from which they positively identify. (Travis). Based
on recent studies, rap music has helped youth gain a voice and has been a major influence in
making them more mature and open minded. (Travis) Rap music has also brought people closer
to their communities through youth groups that listen to this music. Rap has been proven to
increase self-esteem in some individuals. (Travis) Although rap music can be used by
individuals it also can aid professionals.
Hip-hop music could be as much of a learning tool for practitioners as a therapeutic tool
for integration into practice. (Travis and Bowman) In therapy, individuals who are depressed can
be asked to write a rap song that indicates their mental state. Current research data states a direct
connection between self-esteem, depression, hours of listening to music, their individual risk

Hargrove 2

level, and age. (Travis and Bowman) Individuals with poor identity and low self-esteem,
including depressive symptoms may be more likely to go to music to feel better and think about
doing better as an intervention as opposed to simply being an adjunct to the lived experience.
(Travis and Bowman). There are also negative affects attributed to listening to rap music.
Negatively, people who begin as high risk individuals with low self-esteem, severe
depression, or a low connection to their community can actually be at risk by listening to rap
music. Examples of risky behaviors can be the idea of being more comfortable with abusing
substances while listening to rap music and someone might lean towards actually committing
crimes. (Travis) Being younger and male appeared most likely to elicit risky attitudes from
music. (Travis and Bowman) If individuals perceive themselves as victims whose only hope is
a massive and unrealistic social change, they are considered at risk to pick up negative messages
while listening to rap music. (Travis)
In conclusion, Rap began underground but is now accepted by professionals who want to
understand how it influences youth behavior based on their attitude before listening to this
music. The way Hip-Hop is perceived throughout the world is really deciding on the person and
how he or she is feeling while listening to the music.

Hargrove 3

Works Cited
Leach, Andrew. "One Day It'll All Make Sense": Hip-Hop And Rap Resources For Music
Librarians. Notes 65.1 (2008): 9. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

Travis, Raphael, and Scott W. Bowman. "Ethnic Identity, Self-Esteem And Variability In
Perceptions Of Rap Music's Empowering And Risky Influences." Journal Of Youth Studies 15.4
(2012): 455. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

Travis, Raphael, "Rap Music And The Empowerment Of Today's Youth: Evidence In
Everyday Music Listening, Music Therapy, And Commercial Rap Music." Child & Adolescent
Social Work Journal 30.2 (2013): 139-167. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 16 Mar.
2015

Hargrove 4

Thesis Senior Project

Thesis Question
For the amount of time that rap/hip-hop has been around, how has it affected the youth
today?
Working Thesis
Rap and hip-hop have positively affected todays youth.

Thesis Statement
Rap began underground but is now accepted by professionals who want to understand
how it influences youth behavior based on their attitude before listening to this music.