How Rap Influence Local Culture

     How many of you will listen to music by using a mobile device? I guess the answer is more than 80%. The continuous advancement of technology had changed the lifestyle of people which they highly rely on it. There are a lot of things that had been innovated and invented to satisfied people needs (Karehka, 2012). In the past decades, people have to buy CD, Walkman, and cassettes in order to listen to the song. However, people nowadays are able to listen to any songs from a different country by making use of the advancement of technology. People can easily access the Internet and search through social media platform such as Youtube. Besides, the radio served as a medium for people to know about the latest songs. 

      Western music has various genres of music such as country music, hip-hop, punk, electronic music, jazz, rhythm, blues (R&B), and others. However, there are some researchers claimed that western music affects the local culture especially the rap music. It contains racism, harmful, aggressive word and promotes violence lifestyle behavior (Porterfield, 2017). As we know, rap had been defined by the freedom of words. Therefore, the rapper can express any idea that they like including insult a particular person through rap. 

        According to research, the teenager who spends more time watching the sex and violent rap music video are more likely to practice destructive "gangsta" behavior in their life (Kirchheimer, n.d.). In 2011, a study has been conducted to examine which categories of music have the highest percentage of sexual references or imagery. Among rap, pop, rock and country music videos, rap music contains a startling 78% and around 92% of songs on the radio featured sexually explicit message. According to the Atlantic, many of the messages found in the lyrics were about drug use, alcohol, violence, racism, and the glorification of sexually degrading women (Porterfield, 2017). The rise of domestic violence, particularly toward women, are related to the rap music as many of the lyrics advocate violence. In addition, the exposure of western music not only influence the mental but also the physical behavior of people. 

          A study shows that western music such as rap and hip-hop has brought several positive and  negative impact on the society. Firstly, it can have an emotional impact in our daily lives. It can influence our mood and create atmosphere. The music that we listen to can provoke some feeling either happiness or sadness. For instance, the fast tempo of music could provoke high emotion such as joy and excitement while the slow tempo of music could provoke emotion with low energy such as sadness (Thompson & Quinto,n.d.). In fact, hip-hop music can boost our energy level and made people feel happy. In addition, it serves as a stress management tools. It could help us to release stress and relax our mind (Kwong, 2016). As nowadays many people are stressed about their academic and heavy workload in the workplace. Therefore, music can be one of the effective ways to release stress.

      However, music has brought negative effects on the society. For instance, the heavy metal music depicts violence and cause death. The report shows that people who like heavy metal music have a high feeling of depression, suicide thought and deliberate infliction of self-harm. Besides, the high arousal from the music and aggressive lyrics could provoke aggressive behavior (Bhattacharya, 2003). In the research, it shows that 22% of the lyric of rap song feature violence against women including assault, rape, and murder. For instance, the rapper warns the women who challenge male domination will then be assaulted and the sexual imagery that harms women. Furthermore, the lyric that contains sexual imagery promotes the acceptance of women as sexual objects and men as pursuers of sexual conquests. It shows the gender role stereotypes in the society.

       According to Wang (2015), China's culture ministry banned 120 songs that were deemed as "immoral" and ordered the website administrators to take them down. The ministry of culture announced that the list of 120m songs contained obscenity, violence, crime or harmed social morality. If they were not removed, those responsible will face severe consequences. In July 2017, Justin Bieber was blacklisted by Beijing's Municipal Bureau of culture to perform in China because of his previous bad behavior. In 2014, Bieber caused outrage on social media after he posted a photo of himself visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo although he apologized for his action ( BBC, 2017). 

     According to Reuters (2018), the winners of Rap of China who is known as their stage name "PG One" and "GAI" has received negative sanctions for "content at odds with Communist Party values". PG One was forced to make an apology for his inappropriate lyrics which were considered insulting towards women and promote recreational drugs. GAI, who was third place on The Singer pulled out from the show with no reason. 

     Pertaining to the issues, China top media regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio Film, and Television of the People's Republic's of China (SAPPRFT), has specifically stated that program should not feature actors with tattoos or depict hip-hop culture, sub-culture (non-mainstream culture) and dispirited culture (Time, 2018). 

        In my opinion, I think it is understandable as to why hip-hop was banned since China is a  communist country. Hip-Hop was a tool for people to vent their anger, misery, complaint as well as outrage. Very often, we can see that the lyrics contain drugs, crime, and violence. Most of the songs were full of four-letter words. As a culture of black people's defiance, hip-hop was a way for them to get things off their chest and seek for hope. Besides, hip-hop was derived from a capitalist country and the difference in ideology could be part of the reason for the ban.

       In Korea, the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) is one of the TV stations that has always checked for the lyrics of music and banned the song that consists of unethical lyrics. In 2016, KBS has banned one girl's group song, Blackpink's song called Boombayah due to the song that contains line Middle Finger Up F ("Why has KBS banned EXO's Lotto and BLACKPINK's Boombayah?", 2016). Hence, all the TV station should also check the music lyrics and the music video carefully before aired on television and social media platforms such as Youtube, JOOX, KUWO and other music channels. Besides, the television should set age limitation for watching the music video that consists of violence and aggressive scene. Secondly, parents should always monitor the type of music to prevent their children listen to the song that contains violence (Pediatrics, 2009). Parents should always help in filter out the violent music to prevent children imitate the aggressive behavior in the television. 

     Western music was influenced by technology and emerged inspiring changes in our daily lives. Currently, virtual reality is one of the transforming technology. In the next decade, virtual reality headset will be invented and not only available for early adopter but also proliferate toward mass market segment. Hence, virtual reality will transform into a popular music distribution channel. 

    Besides, music personalization might be one of the trends in the future. The rising of music streaming in social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter contribute to the increasing of real-time personalization. Music service will intelligently recommend music regarding mood and taste of the user. Other than that, music selection algorithm will be merged with big data variable and machine learning. Music artificial intelligence will connect with a big data source that includes information such as purchasing history and listening habits from smartphone, car and other devices, Machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence integrated with Big data definitely can substitute the role of human DJ (Rosso, 2016). 

    Last but not least, the musical instrument that played by human will be substitute by the robot as well as an instrument programming that are able to create the sound of the particular musical instrument. Furthermore, even the singer can be substitute by the robot. The technician will investigate and invent a various type of sound for the different type of music. 

Main References:

Bhattacharya, S. (2003). Violent song lyrics increase aggression. New Scientist.      Retrieved 6 February 2018, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3695   violent-song-lyrics-increase-aggression/

Cundiff, G. (2013). The Influence of Rap and Hip-Hop Music: An Analysis on Audience    Perceptions of Misogynistic Lyrics. Inquiries Journal. Retrieved 6 February 2018,  from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/792/the-influence-of-rap-and-hip   hop-music-an-analysis-on-audience-perceptions-of-misogynistic-lyrics

Justin Bieber banned from China for 'bad behaviour'. (2017). Retrieved from            http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40681026

Karehka Ramey, Author at Use of Technology. (2012). Use of Technology.           Retrieved from https://www.useoftechnology.com/author/usetekadmin/

Kirchheimer, S. Does Rap Put Teens at Risk? WebMD. Retrieved from            https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030303/does-rap-put-teens-at-risk#1

Kwong, M. (2016). The Impact of Music on Emotion: Comparing Rap and Meditative        Yoga Music. Inquiries Journal. Retrieved 6 February 2018, from   http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1402/the-impact-of-music-on-emotion   comparing-rap-and-meditative-yoga-music

Li, P., & Jourdan, A. (2018). China takes aim at hip-hop, saying 'low-taste content' must   stop. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-censorship     hiphop/china-takes-aim-at-hip-hop-saying-low-taste-content-must-stop          idUSKBN1FB139

Pediatrics (2009, November). Impact of music, music lyrics, music video on children and  youth. Council on communication and media. Retrieved from   http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/5/1488

Porterfield, K. (2017). A Critical Approach to Rap Music. Retrieved from            http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/708/

Quackenbush, C., & Chen, A. H. (2018). China Bans Hip-Hop Culture and Tattoos From TV. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from http://time.com/5112061/china-hip-hop      ban-tattoos-television/

Ryan. F (2015). China bans Fart and 119 other 'immoral' songs with 'severe punishment'    threat. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/china           bans-fart-and-119-other-immoral-songs-with-severe-punishment-threat

Rosso, C. (2016). The Music Industry in 2026 – Technology and Trends Changing the      Future of Music. Retrieved 13 February, 2018, from    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/music-industry-2026-technology-trends            changing-future-cami-r-/

Thompson, W., & Quinto, L. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 February 2018, from            http://file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/AestheticMind_21.pdf

Why has KBS banned EXO's 'Lotto' and BLACKPINK's 'Boombayah'?.       (2016). International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 7 February 2018,      from http://www.ibtimes.co.in/why-has-kbs-banned-exos-lotto-blackpinks          boombayah-690151