When you think of the current state of Hip-Hop, what is the first thing that crosses your mind? Is it the use of provocative terms? The history and accolades of the culture? How about the addiction to drugs and alcohol? How has the impact of the genre affected your opinion? According to Nielsen’s year-end report in 2018, Hip-hop as a genre surpassed Rock as the most popular genre in the U.S. for the very first time. And with influence comes great responsibility. However, with most of the influential rappers of today being both young and inexperienced to the responsibility of influencing the masses, what type of effect has that had on modern society?
Alcohol and drugs have become synonymous to both Hip-hop music and to the culture. Not only has it been embedded in the music, but it is being showcased in the music videos as well. Lean, being one of the deadliest of drugs, has become the staple of what is deemed as cool and a necessity. Being featured on album art covers, merchandises and music videos, lean is promoted as a need to be creative and relevant in the rap game.
Also known as “Dirty Sprite”, Lean is made of in part of Codeine, a popular opioid used for pain relief and promethazine, a sedative mainly found in allergy medication. A dangerous combination that causes respiratory depression, seizures, and death. On the most extreme levels of emulation from fans who perceive these artists as idols, the fad has now spread to social media, reaching an audience of both middle school and elementary school students. A trend that led to the hospitalization of six middle school students in Silver Springs, Maryland in 2016.
However, in rare situations, musicians will speak out on the pressure to keep the facade alive despite the fact of making healthier choices for their better good. In a new interview with Genius’ Rob Markman, Rapper Future confirmed that he had recently stopped drinking the dangerous concoction but was hesitant with sharing the news with his fans. “I didn’t wanna tell nobody I stopped drinking lean,” he stated. “I didn’t tell… Because I felt like, then they gon’ be like ‘Oh, his music changed because he stopped drinking lean. Oh, I can hear it when he changes…’ It just be hard when your fans so used to a certain persona, you be afraid to change.” It is evident that the pressure of remaining relevant and relatable to fans has had a negative connotation to Future, to the point of forcing him to hide the fact he kicked a potentially deadly habit.
Hip-Hop is often seen as being a negative facet of society, contributing to the misogyny, violence, and sexualization of women that we see day-to-day. The media’s portrayal of the culture couldn’t be more wrong. As some may often forget how truly important hip-hop is to the general population, how therapeutic it can be. Built on the merits of equality, social justice, peace, and community, Hip-hop is increasingly used as a healing mechanism for those who suffer from loneliness, poverty, mental illness and so much more. Rappers such as Isaiah Rashad, Logic, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and most recently Kanye West are breaking the stigma of suffering in silence with mental illness. Kanye West publicly announced last year during an interview with The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God that he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, which later became the theme behind his most recent solo album, “Ye”. It was also on this album when Kanye proclaimed his diagnosis as his “Superpower”. “That’s my bipolar sh*t, ni**a what?
That’s my superpower, ni**a ain’t no disability I’m a superhero! I’m a superhero!” A comment that was met with both positive and negative aspects. While some considered the comparison as “misguided” and “irresponsible”, others called the statement “empowering” and admitting to finding a “newfound level of respect” for Kanye for standing in his truth. The conversation of Ye may be new for most music fans who look for someone who shares their struggles, but for his long-time collaborator Kid Cudi, speaking on Mental health is second nature. From his debut album, “Man on the moon” to his most current album with Kanye West, “Kids See Ghosts”, Kid Cudi has vocally and physically expressed his constant battles with anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and depression. It was in October of 2016 when the then 32-year-old announced that he was going into a rehabilitation clinic for both anxiety and suicidal tendencies, a message that was met with much encouragement and well wishes from both fellow rappers and music fans.
The community of Hip-hop can be a conflicted one, but its influence on society is translucent. Whether it is the drug and substance abuse that forces its way into schools or comforting words from their favorite artists, the youth will continue to look at the culture as a blueprint on life. While the media may choose to blame every bad thing in life on a lyric from a rapper, those who truly live and breathe the culture knows otherwise. As Dr. Dre once said, “It is a living, breathing thing,” and we must treat it as such. We must understand that it will do some good and it will do some bad, just as we would. It will make some good choices and it will make some bad mistakes, just as we would.
