The evolution of Rap Music has been slowly expanding ever since its birth in the early 1970’s, but has expanded considerably in the past few years and bears very little resemblance to the genre it was considered just one decade ago. With a seemingly profound focus on material items such as money, and flashy jewels in addition to personas obsessed with sex, drugs, violence and booze, it is not hard to see why rap music is frowned upon by so many who do not read deeper into the significance of the context behind the music. To the traditional minded, rap music may come across as superficial and abrupt; but with the rap genre metamorphosing into something much more profound, the majority of the non-rap listeners have decided to give the it a second chance. Though conservative folks disagree with portions of concepts being preached in rap songs, the genre of rap is transforming into something so much deeper than what one’s ears might first hear. The compositions presented in this project accurately represent the challenges the genre has faced in order to become what it is today. The evolution of rap music is so profound and only continues to transform its stereotypical characteristics into something so much more commendable and influential to our generation.

             Through the compositions that have been collected, it becomes indescribably clear the impact the genre of rap music has on so many lives. The COMPLEX article titled “Hip-Hop & Depression: How Rap Music Saved My Life” or even the song “If I Didn’t Rap” by the infamous 2 Chainz are both personal stories and examples of ways rap music has changed lives for the better. These two texts are real and intimate representations of what these individuals’ lives might have been had it not been for this genre of music. The COMPLEX article provides an example of ethos by explaining the authors personal experiences. These compositions contain a convention of the narrative genre; identifying a conflict being discussed through the lives of characters and the settings that those characters were involved with through the duration of the compositions.

The genre of rap music was reconstructed in the 1990’s, honing in on an explicit and precise view of what rap was and what it was supposed to portray. Many rappers from the nineties chose to keep up with a persona they felt obligated to depict, leading the genre to become similar with less emphasis on individuality and intellectually rich material that makes todays rappers so unique. In the Harvard Political Review article titled “The Evolution of Rap”, Clara McNulty-Finn states that “The necessity for an artist to create and maintain this character led to a common theme among rap songs in the ‘90s. Rap was the story of the ghetto life and the anthem of gangsters, which prevented hip-hop from joining pop and rock in the mainstream.” Mc-Nulty-Finn implements the Logos as her mode of persuasion by appealing to logic. This composition explores the informative genre of text by leading the reader through analyzed data pertaining to the evolution of rap music without stating an opinion.

            Rap music gets a monumentally inaccurate reputation for being a genre with a serious lack of substance being represented by people with questionable moral characteristics. So many of these stereotypical traits used to represent rap music comes from those who are unable to look past metaphors and experiences involving controversial substances, topics, or lifestyles that go against the status quo. Referring back to the McNulty-Finn’s article, 90’s rap is responsible for a considerable amount of the cultural upset regarding this underestimated genre. Rap in the 1990’s set a sort of basis for success in the industry. This basis consisted of displaying “gang” or “hood” affiliated personas that rappers felt compelled to portray in order to be signed with a record label. The beginning of the nineties was also the beginning of rap music becoming affiliated with the concept of rising up out of poverty areas that partook in illegal activity. Artists such as Ice Cube, NaS, and The Notorious B.I.G were all relevant 90’s artists who rapped about coming out of areas like the projects and what it took to get to possess the amount of fame and recognition they all had. This was the cultural norm for rap music at the time and these rappers were simply going along with the protocol for what sold to the public. Though still iconic and heavily influential in the making of what rap has become today, these rappers featured illegal and inappropriate material in their works.

In the past decade, the face of the rap music genre has changed immensely. Not only has the actual sound of rap music changed, but what is being talked about and explained in songs has also transformed. Rappers today come from all cultural backgrounds and express such a wide variety of circumstances in their music. “Rappers such as Macklemore have hits about formerly taboo subjects like homosexuality, and artists such as Drake, a former Canadian child actor, prove that being a “thug” is no longer a pre-requisite to success. In fact, in an interview with ABC, Drake confessed that he was once described as ‘the furthest thing from hood’” (Mc-Nulty-Finn). Nowadays, artists in this particular genre are more apt to experiment with new propositions and ideas that have not yet been exposed publicly in rap music. Along with new focuses on unfamiliar topics discussed in rap, artists are much less pressured to fit the “cookie-cutter” portrayal of what a rapper should look and act like. Because of these influential and considerable transformations rap has faced, there is more room for listeners to give the genre an opportunity considering there is a much broader range of sounds within the umbrella of the rap music genre.

            One of the biggest problems today’s population has with the genre of rap music is the so called “advertisement” of concepts like sex, gang activity, violence and their influence on the listeners. While this next composition highlights most of the undesired characteristics people associate this genre with, the article specifically fixates on the topic of rap music prompting violence and aggression. This article portrays the persuasive genre of text, stating that our generations relationship to violence is not a result of violence and aggression. This composition is titled “The Social Significance of Rap & Hip-Hop Culture and is written by Becky Blanchard. “In conclusion, despite the blame placed on rap for the prominence of violence in American society, hip-hop music is a symptom of cultural violence, not the cause”, Blanchard writes. Though the writer of this article agrees that the violence in today’s society is a reoccurring issue, she states that rap music only displays ideals of this aggression as being a collection of reactions to those who have been affected by violence and not the other way around. This composition states a view on a controversial topic, and persuades readers to agree with the authors perspective by supporting the thesis with sources and evidence. This specific composition also employs a theme of pathos by appealing to emotion in regard to persuading the reader to side with the articles thesis.

            Despite understanding, interpreting, and giving the rap genre a chance, there are always going to be people who loathe rap music. This composition is an Odyssey article entitled “Rap Music is Harming Millennial Minds” and was written to persuade readers into thinking that rap is no good, and even compares the genre to a “nasty smelling candle” filling your house with a treacherous smell. “That being said, I tend to find that rap music is the type that has the ability to get away with a lot more vulgarity. In general, it just leaves me feeling...dirty” (Odyssey). This composition poses as a counter source, representing the portion of the general public that is disagreeing with the ideals and principles rap music has to offer. This composition is also persuasive, and is arguing the infiltration of rap music into the subconscious of the human mind simply by taking part in the listening of the genre.

Rap music is an extremely personal type of music, allowing artists to express their life’s experiences individually through their songs. Stating that “rap music is the type that has the ability to get away with a lot more vulgarity” may be true, but it is with good reason. Everyone on this earth has overcome intense, hard, and even vulgar experiences. Rap music is an outlet that many have chosen to express these experiences in a simple and honest way. Yes, this genre of music is one of the few that is unfiltered and raw, but if that is how upcoming rappers in the industry feel the need to portray their experiences accurately, so be it. This composition is also persuasive, and is arguing the infiltration of rap music into the subconscious of the human mind simply by taking part in rap music.

            Like it or not, the genre of rap music has a monumental influence on this generation and its culture in general. Though it is profoundly popular in today’s society and dominates the top music charts as well as all forms of social media, there are still those who disagree with rap music’s age old stereotypical characteristics portrayed in lyrics and music videos. Things like sex, drugs, and money are seen as the only things rap culture has to offer despite its popularity in the media. Rap music is evolving every single day and is transforming into an entirely different genre. Though keeping its roots, rap has blossomed into an umbrella term for so many sub-genres being created. This genre has come such a long way from being strictly associated with questionable and illegal activity to something that can pertain to anyone and everyone.