Ban or censor words in rap and hip hop?

Ban or censor words in rap and hip-hop music? Q. Since radio shock jock Don Imus was fired for calling the Rutger's women's basketball team a derogatory name, and after years of using foul language on his radio show, critics have now focused on the music industry and the lyrics in the music of some hip-hop and rap artists. One music mogul, Russell Simmons, recently called on radio stations to ban some derogatory words. Others said that's unfair censorship. What do you think? Should certain words be banned from songs? What do you think about rap music and hip hop? Have the artists gone too far? What about the music companies that market the music? Do they play a role? Is any of the music meaningful to you? Lindy Galloway, 19, UNC Greensboro: In terms of music being a form of art, what the artist puts in the song makes it his or her own. This is not to say that derogatory words need to be used though. Plenty of great non-offensive music exists. If we did not know the songs with those offensive words to begin with we would not be missing out on anything, but I think individuals exist that feel those words are vital to some types of music; this is what some parts of society want. Maybe they should look to the thesaurus for better word choices. Emily Goad, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Most Rap and Hip-Hop artist frequently use foul language, but its not just those genres. I have heard these so called "bad words" from Country, Rock, Metal, etc. But the more these "bad words" pop up in these songs the more young kids will repeat them. Kids these days go around school using it as if it was another word. I don't think these artists know that their music puts such an impact on kids these days. Kids look up to them as hero's, and try there best to be just like them. But the music companies are also at fault here, they help create the music so they are not innocent. In my opinion if they stopped using these "bad words" so frequently the kids would stop using them as well. Drew Gaertner, 14, Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, Charlotte: If rap music were meaningful to me I would be a much different person. I personlly despise rap and hip hop music. most of it is dimeaning and innappropriate. AS some critics say, banning some words is unfair censorship. I believe the words shouldn't be in the songs in the first place. Artist's songs can be demeaning in so many ways. Several words should be banned. The music industry is being hurt by such inappropriate music. Audrey Bissiere-Grote, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Don Imus was fired for saying some inappropriate things, but yet rappers are making millions by saying the same things but only worse! The media needs to decide what is suitable to be aired, but they can be nudged in a certain direction by social pressures. How the government banned smoking advertisements and how we now don't approve of smoking could be used as a way to keep such songs with vulgarity from being so popular. People would still be able to buy CDs, but it would be something that we all look down on. Angelica Kielczewska, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I think that certain words should be banned from songs. Some of the words in songs can be very hurtful to some. Also music companies do take a role in the music. They should know where to draw a line to keep music from going to far. I admit I do listen to songs that have derogatory words in them. But although the songs have these words in them it doesn't mean that they are bad. Some artists use these words to put more meaning into the songs, but some use then as an insult. Quinn Patrick Foster, 18, Sun Valley High School, Monroe: I believe that no lyrics should be off limits to those in the music industry. The words that certain artists incorporate into their songs, for the most part, have a specific meaning or representation. Audiences have the option of whether to listen to music that uses profanity or makes other references which may be offensive to a particular group of people. I am a fan of hip hop and rap music, as well as many other kinds of music that is played on today's radio. Artists simply look to express themselves through their lyrics and should not be limited by the boundaries of being politically correct. Sheresa Rankin, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I like all kinds of music, but there is truly no need for all the bad language. Many hip-hop song have sexist, racial and/or curse words. A lot of times they are not necessary or needed. But some artist just think it adds flair to the song. And the singer is not always the one writing the song either. Some songs have an edge to them that can get people to think about what's going on in there everyday life or what is happening around them. And some song speak the truth. But is all the cursing and fowl language really needed? For all you artist out there ask your self ! this question. What can i do to make my point and keep it PG-13? Khevna Desai, 14, School of Math, Engineering, Technology, and Science at Olympic High, Charlotte: There is nothing wrong with rap and hip hop music, however many songs now a days have derogatory words that influence the listener. Alot of the music is about killing people, beating on women, and don't forget the language that is used. All of this influences the kids who listen to it, the kids think its {quot}cool{quot} to say certain words, or its okay to beat women. Some artists have gone too far, you know when every other word has to be bleeped out. Music companies shouldn't be marketing the music if it doesnt have a good moral to it. Teens listen to alot of these songs, so the companies should want to make it more {quot}teen friendly.{quot} None of the music, where people are killed, drugs are used, or women are beat is meaningful to me. Kayte Hahn, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: Music is not the only medium that kids these days get these words from. There are so many more ways that influence teens and kids to say these words. I am a strong believer in my faith and there shouldn't be any words like that in history. When people say them to you at school or out in public, it seems so rude. I don't like being called some of these things and I hate to be around it. Once people hear things it, sticks with them for the rest of their lives. When I hear a song I know the words to it, even though I have only heard it once. All bad words need to be banned from the radio and other places. Quinton Carter, 15, North Stanly High School, New London:The worlds on the radio should not be censored more than they already are. It isn't like the radio has the "f" word on it. It does have some profanity in it, but they are not that bad. If they banned some words on the radio, then they would have to ban it off the internet and on TV. When I go to the internet or even watch TV, I hear cuss words all the time. I think that our community has heard so much profanity that we have come immune to it. Evan Heilig, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: Censorship of the radio is a ridiculous act. If the radio is going to be censored then the society should ban computers, TV, and CD's too. If the people of the world today think that the radio is the main corruption of our generation, then they've got another think coming. Our generation learns most of the things we know from our peers and our PARENTS. Don't go and try to censor our entertainment if you're giving us approval to hear and do those things at home. Nicole McNair, 20, UNC Charlotte: The music and the lyrics used by some rappers in the Hip-Hop industry is something that I view as a separate entity from the radio world. Just as the Tobacco Industry and the billion dollar sales of various products, a warning sign located on the box informs the customer of the harmful things in the product. Yet, the consumer still uses it. The Hip Hop industry has been around for years and for the most part the same language as well. On all cd's there are warning labels of the explicit lyrics contained within the cd. Therefore I do not get offended while listening to derogatory words because it does not mean anything to me. I separate myself from the entertainment aspect of the music world and realize that the people in music videos, music companies, and artists all give the fans what they are continually willing to purchase and support, entertainment. Although the race of the individual and the job title (radio jockey or rap artist) has a major part in how much meaning each derogatory word carries. I am sure that Don Imus did not intentionally mean to offend the women of the Rutgers basketball team, but ignorance and negligence of such hurtful words is something that neither he nor other persons involved should use as a scapegoat for Don Imus's actions. The Hip Hop Industry should however clean up their act and set a better example for the teenagers who buy the records. In addition, deal with the matter of language censorship within its realm and make it clear to those opposed to some rap artists lyrics the different meanings and connotations a word means when said from the wrong mouth. Trey Fraley, 14, North Stanly High School, New London: I do not think that foul language should be banned from the radio. I haven't heard anything that bad on the radio. Rappers and hip-hop artists use that kind of language to show how they grew up struggling. It adds a little more meaning to what they are saying. The radio isn't nearly as bad as TV. You can hear every word in the book on TV. TV should be edited before the radio. Just because they take the language out, you are still going to hear it on the streets. Brandi Furr, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I am a firm believer in censoring music on the radio. Playing inappropriate words, for the entire listening area to hear, is just wrong. Children, teens, and even adults don't need to hear vulgar lyrics. At a young age, you start picking up on everything you hear. We wouldnít want small kids repeating dirty words they hear. Some might not even know what the song truly means, bit yet still sing along and think it's ok - well, it's not. Do you really want your children being influenced by this? Every radio station should be heavily censored. Melvin R. Kruis, 15, North Stanly High, New London: Censoring the choice words in the songs is the right things to do. What business do teens and other young adults have listening to words like that? Let's not stop there; the profanity used everywhere else needs to be censored, too. Profanity on the radio, in music, and on the TV has gotten too far out of hand. Bleeping the words out isn't working. Despite not hearing the actual words, people can connect the dots and tell what they are saying. So should the radio be censored? Yes, it should as well as the TV and everything else along with it. Mary Noll, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I think that they shouldn't block the words. People talk like that all the time. I try not to say them and be around people who say them. You can't tell anyone what to say and what not to say. To me when I listen to music I am listening to the beat, not the words. I like how the beat gets me to feel happier or not tired. The words do get in my head, but you have to learn know what to say and what not. To me they are just words; I want to know who said they were bad words and who said, "Hey, let me call you this because I hate you and want to hurt you by saying it." Brandin Bennett, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I believe there's a good reason for censoring certain words in music. Music inspires a lot of young people in different ways-- I know that for myself. The derogatory language used in some music is rather absurd. I know some radio stations censor some of the words, but I think all of them should be banned from music. Most of it is used in hip-hop and rap, and I'm sure we don't want the music banned. So, to save our music-- and to cut back on the way we speak-- the right thing should be done. Daniel Culp, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I feel hip hop and rap music describe how some people grew up in the world. I do not feel the radio stations are that bad. There's nothing someone could learn that they wouldn't learn later on. TV, I feel today, is more in need of editing than the radio stations. Some people listen to rap music because it talks about struggling and give some people courage to keep surviving Kimberly Weemhoff, 14, North Stanly High School, New London: Music has become very foul lately. Parents (I am sure) do not want their kids to listen to words that are discriminating and sexist. When kids hear this language, they have more of a tendency to want to say those words, which is not good! I absolutely agree that words such as those I just mentioned should be banned. There is nothing wrong with rap music and hip hop when you talk about things that don't demean others. Music is a part of my life and many others, so I should listen to things that inspire me, not things that talk about beating someone or hooking up. Jue Vang, 14, North Stanly high school, New London: The language has gone too far, but in some music the words are appropriate to use. Other than that I don't think it should be used on the radio. Children are easily influenced with this language. They hear and then they are going to start using it. Today everyone uses this bad language, which isn't good. It should be banned from the radio and some songs. Stephanie Catalani, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I do believe that they should censor out certain words and vulgar things that are said in songs. I listen to that type of music, and they already take most things out. I do agree that those words shouldn't be played over the radio, but I don't think it will make a huge difference if they decided to censor out everything. The radio is not the only thing that kids hear these words from. Taking it off the radio is not going to keep us hearing it at school, on the computer, or tv. Peter Thao, 15, North Stanly High School, New London: I think that some words should not be used on the radio. We have our own opinions and the radio station's people have theirs. If they want to express their opinions, then they should watch their language. There should be no foul language in the music, too. If people want to hear that kind of language in the music, then they should go buy their own unedited CDs at Wal Mart or some other store. People will get used to the language later if it doesn't get banned like people got used to Elvis Presley, but there were still some that never got used to him. Ankita Patel, 14, North Stanly High School, New London: I think certain words should be banned from songs. The language on the radio has gone too far. Younger children are now getting a bad influence from the radio. I think not only should they ban bad language from the radio but even the TV. Many artists don't realize what influence they are giving the public. They need to realize that they need to stop using bad language and when we start censoring from the radio, maybe they will take that in mind. Manal Mahmoud, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Music industries should ban explicit music because people can express their feelings without foul language. Think about little kids who listen to music and learn words that they aren't supposed to learn.To some people, songs mean something to them but to others they like just songs because of the beat. Most people don't even care wether or not there are derogatory words in the music. Some radio stations leave out or cut out words. Music companies play a role in letting the artists cuss and say things that are hurtful. Robert Peele, 14, home-schooled, Charlotte: Pick a rap music video at random and it will likely include references to evading the police, dealing drugs, degrading women, or gang membership. These themes are so prevalent in modern rap that the double standard set in the Imus controversy is laughably obvious. Rev. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and others criticize whites of racism, but perhaps they should look introspectively to find real degradation of blacks. It's been said that if a white racist wanted to make blacks look like uneducated criminals, they'd invent rap music - let's hold these 'artists' to the same standard as everyone else. James Whalen, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: The U.S. was founded a free country. One of these freedoms is freedom of speech. I think this applies to music also. But with freedom comes responsibility. Listening to cursing isn't a bad thing, but if the cursing is insulting people, and is publicly broadcasted, then it is wrong. And its not just rap; many of both country and rock songs have cursing in them. My solution is to say on the radio station if it has any songs with derogatory lyrics in it. This way hopefully no one, especially little kids, will stumble upon these words. Steven Ryle, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I think that music artists do go too far with their lyrics. I don't think that it is fair for someone to get fired for saying the same thing that music artists say and make millions for. Maybe if people want permission to say what rappers say, they should have a beat and their pants around their knees. Music producers need to start to ban the junk that is put on the radio. The only think that is stopping them is the money because that is all that they care for. I don't under stand why this junk sells. Sam Sergi, 12, Providence Day School , Charlotte: Personally I don't even listen to rap or hip-hop. I like to listen to older music. Like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. They almost never ever use bad language in those songs. I think in rap that the artists should write more kid friendly lyrics in the first place. Most rap artists have "radio edit" versions of their songs. On itunes they have explicit and clean versions of songs that you can buy. The music companies probably don't want to interfere with the artist's music, because they just want to sell records.. I think the songs should be censored out of respect. For the listeners, this is just common human courtesy. I don't think that anybody can ban certain words because of the right of free speech in the American Constitution. The words can never be banded but the artists can tone it down a little. Nick Shaner, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I think that as long as they either cut the words out or not use the words at all is fine with me. I listen to all kinds of music and they bleep out the words on the radio station that I listen to. I am sort of fine with some of the bad words not bleeped out from the songs. Some rap songs can have some meaning but most can just go over the edge. As long as they bleep and cut the words out I am fine with the songs. Molly Yandle, 12, Providence Day School, Charlotte:Music has a large influence on people's lives, especially rap music with the use of inappropriate words. Certain words should be banned from rap songs. Music artists can get their message across without using shameful words. I like the beat of rap and hip-hop, but I don't care for the hateful words. Some artists have gone a bit too far. Music companies shouldn't be allowing this. They could sell their products without the unnecessary language. While some of the music is meaningful to me, I could relate to it without the bad words. Corey Guidroz ,13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I think you should leave the music the way it is because to me there's nothing wrong with it. If you're going to just pull out hip hop that's not fair. Look at other music too that is bad. I'm really tired of people talking about how hip hop is bad and the words are bad. Some artists really go overboard with it I will say that. But some just speak about what's really happening in there life so you can't blame them. Some rappers had to use hip hop to get out of what they sing about. No I don't think certain words should be banned. That's taking away from the songs and what they sing about. Personally I like hip hop and rap I think it's real music from people's hearts. The marketers have nothing to do with the music. They just give the money. Some of the music is meaningful but some rappers just take it too far. Ramon Jordan, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Yes some rap music is very meaningful to me. But I think some rap artists have gone way too far with the lyrics to song. I don't think that it's OK for anybody to use foul language against women. I think that rap artists wanna make positive music but they think that the rap listeners will criticize them. The public wants to hear something positive so grandchildren and their grandmas can listen to the same music. Anna Rosario, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Yes, rap and hip-hop have gone a little too far, and I do think they should at least consider bleeping inappropriate words out, if they can't take it out completely. Personally, I have no big issue with cuss words, but I do understand that most parents do. On the other hand, I believe artist haven't gone too far, because children and parents are exposed to inappropriate words everyday, so what difference would it really make to take them out if they're gonna hear it anyway? But to keep America unexplicit, they should cut out bad words. Cameron Pruette, 17, Northwestern High School, Rock Hill: The rap music industry as a whole promotes promiscuity, drug usage and, frankly, is completely degrading to women. I do think that it would be great if stations and networks voluntarily censored out artists and music that promotes these things. The music, whether or not on purpose, is having a huge effect on an ever younger segment of the population. When even children at age 10 or younger know the lyrics to some of the worst songs, it is time for the industry to react. Don Imus' comments are nothing compared to a great deal of these songs. If we are truly worried about these terms in the media and public domain, the msic industry is the place to start. Ryan Dahrouge, 14, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: Freedom of Speech shouldn't have limits. Radio stations are already prohibited to air certain words, so to tell an artist that he or she can't even record those words is excessive. And why target music? Writers and comedians are constantly saying, publishing, and airing language just as inappropriate, but if authors were told that their books could no longer contain derogatory words or offensive terms, it would be an outrage. Matt Kon, 16, Providence High School, Charlotte: Though rap and hip-hop may seem to create prejudice and set a bad example, it is not within the government's power to censor the freedom of speech in rap and hip-hop music any more than to burn the flag in symbolic speech. When I listen to rap and/or hip-hop, I make sure to tell myself that this is what the artist thought was most appealing as a song, and nothing else. Alexandre Gauthier, 13, Smith Academy of International Languages, Charlotte: I think artists should be able to include any words they want to in their music. However, radio stations should choose whether to air explicit music. Parents might not want their children to hear such words on the radio. It would be an infringement of freedom of speech, though, to completely ban words from airing. Artists and music companies might be adding certain words to their songs for coolness. But I feel there is a limit to what should be done to be cool -- like fights in school, for example.