(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’re part of the young hip hop generation, you’ve probably heard it before. For those of you who haven’t, the term “trappin(g)” refers to the attempt to accumulate wealth through the sale of illegal substances. Unfortunately, this term arguably has its own genre of music in present day rap culture. A typical “Trap Mus(z)ic” song, usually featuring one of a plethora of southern rappers, usually begins with a borderline obnoxious DJ promoting a mix-tape and/or yelling the ‘n’ word.
The featured “artist” then proceeds to spend several minutes glorifying a life of selling drugs while degrading women and using obscene language in the 
process. These lyrics are usually masked with an attractive beat and catchy hook that sometimes lead individuals to ignore the lyrical content altogether.
The central themes of “Trap Music” include (but are not limited to) gang violence, robbery, weapons, drug trade, sex, prostitution, and illegally obtained money. This genre of music appeals to a variety of individuals ranging from young children to grown adults. Worse than that, youth attempt to emulate the themes present in this music (if it can still be called music), leading them to pursue a life of drugs, guns, sex, and little education.
These themes find their way into more rap songs every day, even those outside the genre of “Trap Music.” While this does not apply to all rap, the hip-hop genre is presently dominated by negativity. I ask a simple question. Why? When did Grand Master Flash and De La Soul turn into Roscoe Dash and Waka Flocka?
The majority of present-day hip-hop centers itself around negative ideals. This is not the message we should send to our youth, or to ourselves. What happened to music in which young brothers articulated their struggles without the degradation of women, glorification of drugs, or obscene language? The art of the spoken word has transformed into a cloud of negativity, for which I have no explanation. We’re killing ourselves through music, which I guess has become cool..? Either way, I’ll end with this:
I still express, yo, I don’t smoke weed or a sess. Cause it’s known to give a brother brain damage. And brain damage on the mic don’t manage nuthin’, But makin’ a sucker and you equal. Don’t be another sequel… -“Express Yourself, N.W.A.
Written By Spencer Carter
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