#there are ways some can be related biologically but that's a whole nother discussion and i'm not getting into it lmao it's not important

[retiredcultistredux]

The others? Who? - Lollipop anon

Quincy: "Alright, hang on--BEATRICE! ABBADON! Can you guys come over here? It's important!"

A few seconds passed, and then...

[Beatrice and Abbadon are now available for questions.]

(Note: Abbadon is selectively mostly mute and won't answer the questions verbally, but he can still be asked them. And yes I know it's not the traditional/more common spelling, it's like that on purpose.)

[itsmultifaceted-blog]

hip-hop & mental health.

HIP-HOP! 

a music genre developed in the United States by inner-city African Americans in the 1970s, accompanied by rapping over a rhythmic beat. 

It is a relatively newer genre of music that is adored by masses (since it is currently the most listened to genre in U.S history... https://www.vibe.com/2017/07/hip-hop-popular-genre-nielsen-music/) 

BUT - it is also one that stirs up controversy, ill-feelings, and contempt for its lyrical content. 

I myself have been influenced by hip-hop from a pretty young age. Growing up with brothers, it is how I felt connected to them - and it is still how I feel connected to them. It’s a part of African-American culture that has caused division and unity, a sense of pride, awareness of important topics amongst the African-American community... as aforementioned, it is a newer but very influential genre of music. 

       In my experience, (which I recognize is limited), I’ve noticed that first generation Ghanaian-Canadians who are male have a harder time connecting with the Ghanaian culture than females. This may not be true, but it’s an observation I have made. While I was pretty accepting of both Canadian and Ghanaian culture, it appeared that my brothers connected more to the African-American male subculture. They could relate to the aggression expressed in the hip-hop’s lyrics, they found appeal in the lavish lifestyles/rags to riches success that was commonly displayed, and the difficulties in expressing emotional vulnerabilities, masked by all of the aforementioned factors.

       As for myself, I have always just enjoyed the beat of the music. Again, because I am rather emotional and vulnerable, this is was really my only connecting point to my brothers. However, the older I get, the more I’ve become more cognizant of how much mental illness is expressed and almost disguised in hip-hop. Behind the upbeat tempo, the overly sexualized women in the videos… it’s very easy to miss their cries for help. Hip-hop is scrutinized for its misogynistic and violent lyrics (which I do not deny or condone). However, it should be known that the vast majority of these artists who rap such content:

*Had an incredibly difficult upbringing (struggling with poverty, institutional racism, neglect, poor housing and schooling)

*Surrounded by violence (gang crime, domestic violence, prostitution, pimps, drug abuse and trafficking).  

*Grew up without a father (which is very challenging.) Or their father figures were violent, inconsistent or emotionally detached.

Try looking up a few of the prevalent hip-hop artists that you are aware of. Chances are, that they might’ve grown up with such circumstances.

OF COURSE, NOT ALL OF THEM, but most.

Essentially, what they rap about is what they know. It’s all that they’ve ever known.

Now - take the ones who grew up in a “normal” or even wonderful household. This does not take away from the fact that the way black men are (and continue to be) portrayed in the media is often thugs, gangsters, drug dealers, aggressive, nonemotional.

Below is an interview with an older rapper from back in the day (Styles P), with his wife. He discusses the suicide of his daughter, and how she struggled growing up without a biological father. Styles himself notes the difficulty of growing up without his father, too. 

From 25:33-27:52

In watching that, imagine the pain one would feel without ANY father figures.

A LOT of these rappers grew up this way. 

        As I had mentioned, the way black men are consistently portrayed in the media is emotionless and aggressive. In reality, they are expressing themselves the only way they know how and wish to.

Now I find myself listening to these lyrics, and I have become very concerned for the artists and their mental well-being. I wonder almost.. what is our role as consumers of this music? When we hear these artists saying they're “not afraid to die”, and that they are suicidal, and we are blasting it in our cars and at parties and almost ignoring their cries for help? I don’t know. It’s becoming unsettling for me. Below are a few lyrics of popular hip-hop songs at the moment:

I'm in pain, wanna put 10 shots in my brain I've been trippin' 'bout some things, can't change Suicidal, same time I'm tame  XXXTentacion - Jocelyn Flores 

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Two cups, toast up with the gang <- <i>(reference to lean... the leisure consumption of cough syrup and codeine)  From food stamps to a whole 'nother domain Out the bottom, I'm the livin' proof   ... My guillotine drank promethazine <- <i>(cough syrup drank for leisure. Essentially, he admits it’ll be the death of him.) TEC and beams, go to those extremes  Future - Mask Off 

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 I Feel Like That - Kanye West The. Entire. Song. 

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The skreets raised me, I'm a whole bastard I bought a 'Rari just so I can go faster  21 Savage - Bank Account 

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I might blow my brain out Xanny, help the pain, yeah < - (Xanax, anti-anxiety medication) Please, Xanny, make it go away I'm committed, not addicted, but it keep control of me All the pain, now I can't feel it I swear that it's slowin' me  Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Llif3   

Not only do I worry about these artists, but I also worry about the black men (and really, any individual) who are close to me who only listen to this music, and this music ALONE, as I know they're struggling with their mental health as well. I do believe that the content you put into yourself is essentially what you will put back out into this world - whether we recognize it or not, it ultimately manifests in our actions and how we perceive the world.

While people can be listening to this music without necessarily struggling with their mental health, there are people who do. I think it’s important to recognize those who are struggling. 

How? Well.......

As individuals who care for the well-being of other individuals, (particularly our impressionable young people who listen to these artists), I think it’d be a good idea to familiarize ourselves with upcoming artists with growing popularity amongst youth.

This shouldn’t be done for the purpose of being able to relate to them, and gear them away towards that music - that is ultimately their choice. But rather...…well.... for example; I started to pay attention to the music that a young person I know, who was gravitating towards. A lot of its content talked about abusing Xanax and drinking codeine. It was through that that I discovered he was experimenting with those drugs, too.  I know that he is someone who has trouble expressing himself emotionally, and how he did it was through the music he listens to. 

~ Honestly I feel like this post is all over the place... this has been a growing concern of mine and I just have so much I want to say about it .... but I guess essentially, what I’m trying to say is: ~ 

For consumers of this music - be careful! Trap beats are infectious and poppin’... trust me, I know. I am guilty of obsessing over them... buuuut what we put in is what we put out. This is fact. 

For the binge consumers of this music - I hope you are able to find someone to confide in, in regards to the negative feelings that you have. Even if it is just showing someone what your favourite songs/lyrics are. There is help. There is hope. I am here to listen. 

For those who may have nothing to do with the music, but care how it is affecting people - Again, don’t necessarily think every black boy (or individual of any sort) listening to this music is troubled... take time to invest into the lives of young people... even if it’s regularly greeting them, or treating them to a McDonald’s gift card or something - small gestures can sometimes have great magnitudes in one’s life. Show warmth, show care, dedicate random acts of kindness (consistently!!!!!!!!) to a young person. These are different times, and they are facing a l o t of pressure.  

For the loathers of hip-hop - I hope that this post has given a bit of insight into the lyrical content, and why it’s not the most flattering. Again, I’m not trying to make excuses for the misogyny and heavily violent content...but at the same time, recognize that this genre is NOT just that. These too, are hurting people, who are expressing themselves the only way that they can. 

- danielle.