Music has become the most prominent form of communication throughout history. It can be used to express emotions, change a person’s attitude, and even offer clarity on difficult situations. Many musicians use this knowledge to help promote their agenda, whether it is a political movement or a change that society needs to make. In the past, music was used to test the restraints that society had on its citizens. Music was breaking out of its conformed mold and transforming itself as well as the people who listened to it. Many people readily accepted this newfound change that was starting up, while others rejected it. The music that affected society the most was rock-and-roll, rap, and hip-hop during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. This essay will examine how these genres of music changed society during those eras.
Rock-and-roll was the catalyst that caused social and cultural norms to change. It has been influenced by many different genres such as blues, jazz, and even gospel that made it into the original genre that we know it as today. Many rock-and-roll artists have used to as a platform to speak about political issues and to influence government change. One way that rock-and-roll changed society is the huge impact it had on teenagers in the 1960s and 70s. Dance fads were based on popular songs at the time, such as Chubby Checker’s “Twist”. Rock music paved the way for teenagers to be rebellious against the repressive nature they grew up in. In the 1960s, a new generation of thinking was beginning to form. The parents of the generation wanted their children to embrace the ideals of peace, security, and affluence they had worked so hard for (Gilmore, 1990). However, due to rock music the youth chose to rebel and form their own ideals about socirty. Parents were worried about the influence it had on their teenagers when they started mimicking the clothing and hairstyle of their favorite rock artists. Many people believed that rock music would be the downfall of American traditions and cultures with its ability to inspire youths to break free of their mold. It was also considered a threat due to its promotion of sex and drugs. By the 1970s and 80s, the rock scene was filled with artists such as David Bowie, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. By this time, another genre was rising to the top of the list.
Contrary to popular belief, rap and hip-hop did not begin in urban neighborhoods in the 1970s. Rap music came into being in Jamaica in the 1960s. The first ever rap recorded song was “Skaiing West’ and it was released in 1963 by a group called Sir Lord Comic and the Cowboys. Rapping was firmly apart of Jamaican music since the early 1960s, while African American musicians began practicing rap in the early 1980s (New York Times, 1988). Rap slowly evolved into what it is today due to the issues (drug addiction, welfare struggles, racism, etc.) that many African Americans faced in the 1970s and 80s. Rap and hip-hop first made its appearance in an urban neighborhood in Bronx, New York City. It was created in places where people gathered to speak rhymes over music that was borrowed from other musician. Rap was the style that the music was performed in, while hip-hop was art that appeared around it. Hip-hop came in the form of clothing (baggy pants, bandanas, and gold chains), graffiti, and dancing (The Play Center for Media). In the beginning, rap was very aggressive in its speech and oppositional. Unlike rock and roll music, rap did not have guitar riffs and drum solos. Rappers used turntables to create their rhythms and beat because to them the creation of the sound was more important than the arrangement of it. (Play Center for Media). A lot of rap songs opposed the established and promoted violence in some cases. In 1988, a well-known rapper by the name of Ice-T was all over the media because of his song “Cop Killa”. Many police officers were murdered when the song was released and the media blamed Ice-T for influencing the criminals with his music. Even in today’s society, rap music is still frowned upon for its glorification of violence and drugs.
Music from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s had a profound way of shaping America. The rock music from the 60s brought people together to break through the traditional norms of society. The youth was using the music to establish their own identity away from their parents. During those times, many artists used their influential powers to persuade certain political agendas and civil movements, such as protesting wars. Rap and hip-hop came from out of Jamaica and found its way into Bronx, New York City. There, many African Americans let out their frustrations with society in the form of rapping and hip-hop culture. The people who opposed rap music saw it as nothing but vulgarity and blamed rising crime rates on the rap artists. Music continues to affect society by allowing people to be influenced by the artists’ messages. However, the messages that artists put out can have either a positive or negative effect on an individual or group.
Works Cited:
Gilmore, Mikal. "Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and the Rock of the Sixties." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 1990. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. <http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylan-the-beatles-and-the-rock-roll-of-the-60s-19900823>.
"Rap Music Began on Jamaica in the 1960's." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 June 1988. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/15/opinion/l-rap-music-began-on-jamaica-in-the-1960-s-659388.html>.
"The Emergence of Hip-Hop | The Paley Center for Media." The Paley Center for Media. The Paley Center for Media. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. <https://www.paleycenter.org/the-emergence-of-hip-hop/>.
