by Sherry Obenauer

Created on: April 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Right to Censor: Music or Mania

Everyone listens to music, especially children and teens- the main purchasers of music CDs. Rap and hip hop seem to be the most popular with young people. Artists such as Kid Rock, Eminem, Tu-Pac, Shaggy, Dr. Dre, and Little Bow Wow magnetize and energize kids around the world. The music is certainly catchy, but have you ever sat down and actually listened to the lyrics? Perhaps, it's time parents and music producers did.

Music has definitely changed over the years. Sure songs about love and relationships have been written since the beginning of time. Many songs about nothing in particular are intended just to be fun. Over the last 20 or so years, music has seen the birth and rapid development of rap, grunge, and anger-toting lyricists bent on venting their spleen against various aspects of society. Sure, the sixties saw intense societal dis-ease expressed in the music of the time. Such lyrics advocated anger (war), inequity (gender inequity), as they advocated freedom of choice. Today's lyrics express unmitigated rage towards everything and everyone.

Few would argue against the right for every person in society to receive fair treatment and respect. Yet, many artists insist on writing lyrics replete with hatred towards gays and lesbians (Eminem), authority figures (Ice-T), and women (Kid Rock and Eminem). Lyrics that propose "cop-killing" and refer to women as "whores" and "bitches" whose sole role is to serve men sexually are degrading. A man's prowess is based upon the number of women he's "fu...." and the size of breasts and good looks his current "ho" has. Many of the more popular artists of today openly advocate female battery and rape to keep women in line.

Besides the open bashing of women, gays, minorities, and authorities, several artists encourage the use of violence with or without provocation. Intimidation, beating, killing, drive-by shooting sprees, and other forms of violence are to be expected and seen as the only way to get things done. Whoever has the most weapons, most murders, and highest testosterone level wins. And what is the prize? Women, respect, power, and drugs.

Drugs for sale or personal use are treated as trophies in the lyrics of many artists today. Sometimes, a lyricist writes from the view of a drug addict, who is usually portrayed as either comical or powerful. Rarely, does one hear of the negative consequences of repeated drug use. Instead of warning kids about the use of drugs, they learn

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