Money, Cars, Clothes & Hoes: Breaking Stereotypes

      I’m an amazing mind reader and I would like you to quickly take a second and envision a generic “rapper”…  Do you have a picture in your head? Prepare to be blown away with my mind reading skills… Were you picturing a black male? Told you I’m good.

     American society stereotypically associates certain music with certain types of people. Though there are definitely exceptions, typically each genre both targets and attracts people of specific demographics. Here are some musical stereotypes that I guarantee most Americans believe to be true: Country music is often associated with a white audience; Pop Music is associated with young listeners; Heavy Metal is often associated with male listeners; Christian Rock is associated with (you guessed it)… Christian listeners; and Rap/Hip-Hop is often associated with a black audience.

     When I introduce myself to someone, I can guarantee that the first thing to come out of that someone’s mouth is “you’re Irish right?” I can also guarantee that the second thing out of that person’s mouth isn’t “you’re a huge rap fan right?” Though surprising to many, I could talk all day about 2pac, Kendrick Lamar, KRS-One, The Wu-Tang Clan (even Ol’ Dirty Bastard), A$AP Rocky, Cam’ron, Dilated Peoples, Curren$y, Nas, N.E.R.D., Big L, Outkast and my guys The Cool Kids. Despite the fact that I am a white female (a.k.a. not your stereotypical rap fan), I still have spent close to a decade listening to, interpreting, and appreciating the sounds, lyrics and ideologies found within rap music.

     Music has the ability to act as a universal language among people of all differences. Music, as a communication tool, can reach out and touch the masses. Different ideologies, which help us to define and make sense of the world around us, are illustrated and can be recognized in every genre of music regardless of the gender, age, race, socioeconomic status, religious background or sexual orientation of the listener. Music is interpretive.