I have always been a devout fan of hip-hop music. Throughout the years, I have seen and heard much negative publicity surrounding it.

I am very concerned with the negative portrayal of hip-hop music and culture by today’s media. It seems no mainstream media can approach this topic without having some sort of negative preconceived notion of hip-hop. The stereotypes associated with this category of music are unfair and riddled with ignorance.

Hip-hop is the music of our generation, but it is more than music. The music is reflected in the clothes we wear, the movies we watch, and more importantly, it is the way we think. Now more than ever, hip-hop culture has an impact on the way we live, as well as the way all Americans live.

In the midst of the pre-election campaigning done by all political parties, the hip-hop generation of today campaigned itself - to see all eligible young men and women go to the polls and make an impact on the way we live by voting. The ludicrous stereotype that all rap artists are uneducated men and women has always been the central opinion held by the media when discussing hip-hop. It was neither George W. Bush nor Al Gore who recently said, “In terms of what certain media outlets show you, it’s very one-dimensional. It’s not just hip-hop music - TV and movies in general are very narrow. Sex, violence, the underbelly, with junkies, prostitutes, alcoholics, gamblers, the new trend today is depravity.” Rapper and political activist Mos Def said this, describing the current condition of the entertainment world.

The media constantly portrays hip-hop in a negative light because that is all it chooses to show and all it chooses to see. It is time for the media to put aside the negative connotations associated with hip-hop and listen to its message.

Syed Amaanullah
computer science freshman