Idolizing Villains
Why America’s Most Horrific Rappers are Idolized
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The Badder the Better
Horrifying and horrendous, these sound like lyrics of someone who should be locked up in a mental institution. Someone who suggests that he killed a four year old by slitting his throat deserves to rot in jail or even worse for taking the life of an innocent boy who cannot defend himself. The rapper who said this along with other lines such as:
And:
“Well this is called ass rape and we’re shooting the jail scene”
should be in jail. Instead he has a net worth of $170 million dollars, was named the artist of the decade by Billboard Magazine in 2009, and has sold over 45 million records and 40 million digital downloads. Eminem (the rapper responsible for the lyrics and accolades above) even has custody of three kids, two of them not even biologically his.
So the question I’m proposing is “Why are rappers idolized and considered role models in today’s society?” Some may accuse me of picking the most obscure artists for this analysis, however, I only analyze rappers who appear in the top five of BET’s 50 most influential rappers of all time.
These rappers are:
5. Eminem
4. The Notorious B.I.G.
3. Dr. Dre
2. Jay-Z
1. 2Pac
(BET)
The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G. (Better known as “Biggie” or “Biggie Smalls”) is considered by many to be the greatest rapper of all time. The man who “Ruled the East Coast” during the 1990s was murdered while visiting LA in a drive-by shooting incident. Millions cried and a state of paranoia and depression fell over the East Coast, especially New York. But why does an entire nation weep over the death of someone who spat:
With this rhyme Biggie publicly admitted to befriending someone who kidnaps, rapes, and murders kids. The alleged “King of the East” also mimics murdering someone at the end of one of his hit songs “Who Shot Ya?” How can an entire nation weep when someone who let lines about child kidnap, rape, and murder roll off his tongue as easily as if he was giving the weather report?
Myside Bias
What the Best College Students Do is a book written by Ken Bain in 2012. In it, he explains how to succeed in college. He discusses the different parts of the brain and the importance of ideas such as paradigm shifts and “Myside Bias” (77). Myside Bias, as Bain uses it is, refers to gathering information and evidence “to confirm what we already believe because it’s easier to do that than it is to look for information that might prove us wrong” (78).
In today’s society, rap is accepted and rappers are idolized. We tend to ignore the overwhelming evidence that what these rappers say in their lyrics is not O.K, because saying so goes against the status quo. Today’s young adults (myself included) grew up during the Hip-Hop cultural movement of the 1990’s and early 2000’s and ignore the horrifying lyrics these rappers spit because what they are saying is considered cool and accepted.
They pushed and continue to push the limits of “Freedom of Speech,” and, as seen throughout history, they have become national heroes for “rebelling.” In multiple songs released shortly after the extremely controversial Presidential Election of 2004, Eminem scrutinizes the winner George W. Bush, in his song “Mosh,”and goes so far as to say “Fuck Bush, until they bring our troops home,” and “For this monster, this coward/That we have empowered/This is Bin Laden,” comparing him to America’s most wanted man at the time.
Rappers are the Best Story Tellers
Another reason that rappers are idolized in today’s society is because of their story-telling ability. By spouting terrifying lyrics about murder and rape, rappers turned into America’s best story-tellers, something of high value in the country of stars and stripes. In order to see the beauty of the story, however, sometimes Americans need to read between the lines, which is easy for today’s young adults who grew up during the Hip-Hop Movement.
They tell stories of struggle, of challenge, of overcoming adversity; Anything from their children to erotic sex scenes to attacking other rappers is considered acceptable and nothing seems to cross the line. And lord knows Americans love a good sex story, as proven by EL James making $95 million in 2013 on her “50 Shades of Grey” series.
Eminem’s “Mockingbird” was an immediate hit, and is one of many examples of the story-telling genius of Eminem (A few others are “Stan” and “Not Afraid”). It is set to a lullaby backdrop and tells the story of his early marriage, his rise to fame, and his divorce. In it, he apologizes to his daughter, Hailie Jade, for the struggle she had to endure when she was little. It is stories like this portrayed in rap that grip and tug at American’s hearts.
Americans Love a Good Beef
Rapper’s animosity and the venom behind their rhythms are another reason that they are idolized in today’s society. Americans love a good fight, (The Ultimate Fighter Championship is currently worth approximately $3.5 billion), and/or war of words, and rap fulfills their need for them.
2Pac, BET’s most influential rapper of all time, was a master of this, going at The Notorious B.I.G in 1996 in his legendary dis-track “Hit ‘Em Up.” A master behind the mic, 2Pac spits rhythms so vicious and makes it flow so smoothly and beautifully that Americans couldn't help but be blown off their feet by his feat. In it he spits:
“You claim to be a player but I fucked your wife,”
and even goes as far to say that Biggie isn’t real and stole his style when he says:
“You’s a beat biter/Pac style taker/ I’ll tell you to your face, you ain’t shit but a faker.”
This led to an East-Coast, West-Coast war of words and violence that America loved, but ended with the tragic murders of 2Pac and Biggie in 1996 and 1997.
Overcoming Adversity
“From rags to riches” as the old saying goes is the last reason that rappers are idolized in today’s society. Americans love a success story, and most rappers fulfill that need. All five of the rappers in BET’s top five for the most influential rappers in history came from nothing and made themselves into multimillionaires.
Second on the list, Jay-Z, with a net worth of over $1 billion, grew up in housing projects and his dad walked out on him and his Mom when Jay-Z was very young. He turned to selling crack as he got older, and rapped only on the side because dealing drugs made him more money. Once he finally pursued his rap career, his success sky-rocketed and he is forever known as one of the best rappers, if not the best rapper, of all time, with thirteen Number 1 Albums.
Rappers Will Always be Idolized
Even though rappers spit vile and horrific lines about murder, rape, and other unthinkable acts, they will always be idolized in America. Thanks to the Hip-Hop Movement of the 1990’s and early 2000’s, today’s status quo is to accept without question the lyrics artists rap. This “Myside Bias” (Bain 77), will not be challenged because it is easier to find evidence that supports the status quo than it is to gather evidence to oppress it.
Americans love a good story and rappers are the best tellers. Their lyrics can leave listeners on the edge of their seats, and many raps are ballads that leave the listener shocked and awed by the ending. The brutality and animosity with which rappers attack each other feeds into Americans’ need for a good fight. They spit rhythms that belittle their opponents and leave them angry and wanting vengeance. This feeds into rap “beefs” that American media feeds into and fuels, leaving the people fascinated and wanting more.
Americans are riveted by stories of perseverance and overcoming adversity, which rappers provide when they become successful. Rappers fulfill the American need in all of these regards, but never enough that they are content, and always leave them wanting more. As the great Dr. Dre once said, “I’m never gonna stop music, it’s like air to me.”
