Personal Injury Law

Popular Music Glamorizes Illegal Drug Use: New Study

Rap music glamorizes recreational drug use and portrays illegal drugs such as crack and cocaine as symbols of wealth and status, according to recent research conducted at the University of California - Berkeley School of Public Health. 

This latest study has found that while early rap lyrics often tended to warn against the dangers of substance abuse (when they mentioned drugs at all), contemporary rap artists have moved away from those lyrics and begun to encourage illicit drug use in their music.

After sampling 341 lyrics from rap music's most popular hits between 1979 and 1997, a team of Berkeley researchers found that references to drugs had increased six times during the period.  Of the 38 most popular songs between 1979 and 1984, only 4 contained drug references. But by the late 1980s it had increased to 19%.  After 1993, nearly 70% of rap songs mentioned drug use.  Furthermore, lyrics describing specific instances of drug use increased, and the context changed from concern about the devastation of drugs to a glamorization of drug use. 

Authors of the study also warn that much of what is discussed in rap lyrics is in code, so while parents may not understand the significance of many lyrics, their kids do.  For instance, the verb "flinging" means selling drugs.  Common slang words for marijuana in popular lyrics include "broccoli," "trees" and "chronic."  "Fat sacks" and "strapped horns" refer to pipes for smoking cocaine.

Other studies have demonstrated that rap is one of the fastest growing musical genres in American society today and plays a prominent role in youth culture.

Previously on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

• Substance abuse prevention strategies for communities
• A study showing that parents can curb college drinking by supervising their high schoolers
• Guidelines for communicating with kids about alcohol

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Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on April 13, 2008 (boomark / email).