Rethink Resources

So a few months back I wrote about Ludacris being recognized for his song and work by the National Runaway Switchboard. My friend Victoria’s recent comments had me thinking about hip hop and youth work.

First I think on the practical side that if you work with young people involved in the sex trade (or even most young people anywhere in the US) you will be working with people who listen to rap and hip hop music.

A marketing study found 44% of youth defined their identity through music (with family as a close second at 39%). The way I see it, you can choose to get into lots of arguments about that music or you can find ways to have more constructive conversations.

I’ve used hip hop music in workshops with youth to start up a conversation about the sex trade. And sometimes it’s just to have good inspiring music during a workshop with youth.

I think youth feel that if adults are shocked by the content of some lyrics or videos that they must be not aware of what’s happening everyday. Adults seem more worried about the influence.

I’ve found many youth are entirely aware that the lyrics of much of the mass produced rap and hip hop are derogatory or pointless but listen anyway because it sounds good coming out of your car super loud or maybe even because it annoys adults. By the way, my apologies to anyone who clicked on that last link as that song will stay in your mind forever.

I’ve also introduced youth to non-mainstream hip hop and rap music and had great conversations about who controls what gets played on the radio. And youth have shared with me demo tapes of underground and up and coming local artists.

More to say another time but really if you don’t think there’s any good hip hop – you’re not listening to the right artists.