Music And Censorship

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate April 2001

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There were many questions posed concerning whether or not music such as heavy metal and rap music are influencing our society in a negative aspect. This question has posed a lot of controversy streaming from the public opinion of explicit lyrics, to musicians defending their right of the First Ammendment.

What is going on here? Why have some forms of music reached such a low level, denoting a nationwide controversy? Some of today's music refromers say, the industry is saturated with songs whose sole purpose is to degrade women, celebrate promiscuity, promote "shady" lifestyles, and encourage violence.

One of the major problems come in when the record industry executives and artists have refused to take reponsibility for the influence their music has on young people. Delmar "Daz" Arnaud, and Ricardo "Kurupt" Brown apprentice of Snoop Doggy Dog and Dr. Dre feel they are being pegged down by society. Daz comments, "People are going to be shocked.

Just call us the profanity kings." Rap artists expecially feel that the controversy of record executives not releasing their album under their label, is a black- white issue. Andre Harrell, founder of the CEO, attributes theis treatment to, in part, the lack of blacks in decision-making positions with in the industry. "Blacks are left in powerless positions at these record companies, and that it is sad because white execs can't relate to our cultural issues or experiences, and don't want to." So this is a black-white issue? I do not feel that artists have the right to proclaim their album not being signed as a racist issue. To prove this issue from the opposite angle, let me take you back to a time in history where on of the first impacts of social distortion using music was implemented.

Picture it the mid-seventies Great Britain. The whole...