How Hip-Hop Has Affected Modern English
Hip-Hop has been a staple of American popular culture for over three decades, and has touched the lives of millions. It recently overtook Rock as the most consumed music genre in America. With a massive audience like this, Hip-Hop has been greeted with both acclaim and controversy, and has much influence over popular culture and the easily impressionable youth of the world. Hip-Hop produces viral internet memes, dance crazes, and overnight superstars regularly; its influence is seemingly inescapable anywhere you look. The multiple generations who have been influenced by Hip-Hop have helped the language of the genre and culture spread, evolve, and become a normal part of the modern English vocabulary.
Hip-Hop traces its origins back to The Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s. It started as more of a cultural scene than music scene. Its music began to gain an audience through the many block and house parties hosted throughout the city at the time, which usually had DJs who played popular music from the era, such as Disco, Funk, and Soul. These three genres were all heavily incorporated into early Hip-Hop music, along with elements of R&B (rhythm and blues), Reggae, Rock, and Electronic music. The rapping aspect of Hip-Hop evolved from “toasting,” a Jamaican tradition that incorporates speaking and poetry into music. Rapping, also known as Emceeing, differs from toasting by using clever wordplay and rhymes, which are then
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performed rhythmically over the music.
Hip-Hop music can be filled with slang, profanity, and explicit content, with a wide array of lyrical topics that often involve wealth, poverty, politics, love, and mental health. More controversial topics often include partying, sex, crime, misogyny, homophobia, violence, and drug and alcohol use. These themes have attracted many of its listeners, while also offending and pushing away many others. The vulgarity that is often present in the music has been a frequent topic of controversy and debate within the media ever since the genre first became mainstream.
Hip-Hop culture has a distinct and immediately recognizable fashion style. Since its conception, baggy jeans, oversized T-shirts, gold and silver jewelry, flashy shoes, and tracksuits have been some of the stylistic mainstays of Hip-Hop. Fashion brands such as FUBU, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, FILA, and Adidas are, and always have been, some of the brands of choice for Hip-Hop musicians and connoisseurs everywhere. With these types of loose clothing, you can feel comfortable while also looking trendy. This laid-back but also fashion-forward feel of the style has attracted Hip-Hop lovers, and even Hip-Hop haters, from all across the globe.
Due to Hip-Hop’s origins within the African American community, and its biggest scene being within the United States, the use of African American Vernacular English, or AAVE for short, is commonplace within the genre. AAVE is difficult, if not controversial, to pinpoint as one definition. It differs from other dialects linguistically by having its own unique terminology, structure, accent, organization, and articulation. Over 12% of the United States population are
African American, and over 80% of this population use the AAVE dialect. This signifies that its
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use within the country was already widespread, before Hip-Hop even began its chokehold on popular culture.
The lifestyle, fashion, and themes within Hip-Hop music have helped bring the genre and culture to a global audience. Hip-Hop’s popularity keeps climbing, as its musical artists continually occupy the top chart positions year after year. Television networks such as MTV and BET boosted Hip-Hop’s popularity during the 1990s, and helped spread its audience to even more socio-economic groups. Millions embraced its fun and carefree attitude, and emptied their
pockets to stay up to date with all of the fashion trends attached. With Hip-Hop’s increasingly diverse audience taking influence from all of these cultural aspects, non-African American Hip-Hop fans began to not just look the part, but speak it too.
Within the AAVE used in much of the music, there is a lot of slang and jargon that makes it onto Hip-Hop records. Words like “yo” (a term for hello, or used to get someone’s attention), “homie” (a term for friend), “ice” (a term for jewelry), and “dough” or “bread” (terms for money), are used among all ethnic groups. While it is generally acceptable for people of all ethnicities to say these, there is one word that is used by many people of all ages and races that has African Americans up in arms on a daily basis. This is the word “nigga”. While the word is frequently used in Hip-Hop songs by African American artists, it is common knowledge that is has also been used as a derogatory term for people of African descent for centuries. Still, many non-African American people justify using it with their love of Hip-Hop. With commonly used excuses like, “You know I don’t mean it.”, and “I only say it when I’m singing along to music.”, the issue continually gets pushed to the side by many.
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There are many reasons why this may be, but the biggest one seems to be desensitization to the word, due to how often it is thrown around in Hip-Hop music. People forget the true meaning of the word when they hear it being said every day, whether in media or in their day to day lives. They can’t seem to separate the culture from the context, and there are complications that arise from this due exclusively to ethnic factors. Non-African American people will use this word to feel more involved and accepted in the culture, but don’t realize that using the word is in
fact pushing them in the complete opposite direction. Using the word even in a non-derogatory way furthers the systemic racism that this country is already plagued with. They may not feel racist when saying it, but its implication is that they don’t truly understand or realize the damage that can be done just by saying it.
For many non-African American Hip-Hop fans, refraining from using the word provides insight. It can help them realize the meaning and context behind the word. By not saying it, they lower the chances of other people around them saying it. As awkward as it may feel to omit a single word from a song, it’s better than shouting it from the rooftops for all to hear and be affected by. The introspection that refraining from using the word provides for non-African Americans is healthy and progressive. It can help them look into themselves and question their beliefs, as well as the beliefs of the people they surround themselves with, which can lead to positive change within communities and social and familial circles.
Many African American Hip-Hop fans use the word “nigga” as a way to show their love for the culture and music, as well as as a way to connect more to their roots and ethnic background. While use of the word by non-African Americans has a negative impact, many
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African Americans see it as acceptable when used by those within their ethnic group. Similarly, an example of this reclaiming of derogatory terms could be seen in people of the LGBT+ community using the word “queer”. After the word had been used against them as a slur for decades, it is now accepted as a legitimate identity and sexuality. When a group reclaims a derogatory word used against them as their own, the word can give them more of a sense of empowerment. While the use of the word “nigga” may be positive or empowering for many
African Americans, the spread of the word in any connotation only causes negative impact on the way our society speaks and functions.
Two themes that are consistently present in much Hip-Hop music are homophobia and misogyny. Since Hip-Hop first broke out into the mainstream, there has been much controversy surrounding the use of these two themes. Many artists have received much opposition in the media over this. The Beastie Boys were going to call their first album Don’t Be A Faggot before their label made them change it, and the group has publicly expressed remorse over the original album title in the years following its release. One artist who comes to mind in particular is Eminem. He is undeniably the most successful white rapper of all time, and one of the most successful rappers the genre has boasted overall. While he has never once said the word “nigga” in his music, much of it is filled with comically violent depictions of misogyny and hateful speech and slurs directed towards those within the LGBT+ community. When his second album, The Marshall Mathers LP, garnered 3 Grammy nominations in 2001, including one for the coveted Album of the Year award, the tabloid nightmare surrounding him and his music came to a climax. To prove that the rampant homophobia and use of the word, “faggot” in his music was
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just a farce, he did a heavily publicized performance at the 2001 Grammys with one of the most successful gay singers of all time, Elton John.
The use of misogynistic and homophobic language in Hip-Hop has helped slurs like “bitch,” “slut,” “hoe,” and “faggot” become a normal part of the English language. These slurs and other slurs like them are widespread in the lyrics of Hip-Hop songs. Just like using the word “nigga”, people use these words to feel more immersed in the culture of Hip-Hop. Yet people don’t receive nearly as much flak for their use of these words because they are so commonly used by people outside of the Hip-Hop community too. This makes it even more difficult to get the conversation against the use of these words started. While Eminem and Elton John took a step in the right direction for this purpose with their Grammy performance together, which caused many people to ponder about the relationship between the Hip-Hop and LGBT+ communities, many others saw this as even more reason to continue using these words. If Elton John is okay with it, (so okay with it that he did a performance with Eminem), everyone else should be too, right? This is inaccurate, and a common misconception.
There is power in numbers, and with people outside of the Hip-Hop community using these words too, they have a slur-speaking army of millions. With more people using these words, it is without a doubt harder to get people to stop. There is less taboo around these words because of their popularity within the language, and Hip-Hop’s use of the words only causes more desensitization towards them. It’s harder to explain to someone why they should refrain from using language like this when they hear it everyday through music and people around them. And while many people will claim that they aren’t using the words in a derogatory sense, it still
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marginalizes and causes irreparable damage to women and the LGBT+ community by continuing to spread the offensive terms into the vocabulary of millions. The true context behind these words always negative, no matter which way they are used. People ignore this, and like mentioned before, will put the culture before the context in order to feel more accepted by the Hip-Hop community.
Although the true meanings of these words are casually swept under the rug by many, in recent years there has been more discussion over the misogyny and violence against women that is depicted in much Hip-Hop music due to the #MeToo movement picking up steam around the world. Many artists and people involved in the Hip-Hop side of the music industry have been accused of horrific sexual, emotional, and physical violence against women. With this new sense of empowerment in abused women, and once again with their power in numbers, Hip-Hop music and culture is being put to the test over its political correctness. In the past two decades, misogyny within Hip-Hop has slowly become less prevalent, but is still one of the things that immediately comes to mind for many when they think about Hip-Hop. It can be argued that less and less fans of Hip-Hop are using misogynistic language, but the widespread use of it within Hip-Hop, past and present, will forever have impact on women.
Hip-Hop is a major part of the world’s youth culture. Teens and young adults across the globe can’t get enough of Hip-Hop music, and all of the aspects surrounding it. This includes the fashion, and even the language and dialect that has a constant presence within the culture. For many young people, Hip-Hop gives them a sense of rebellion and individuality. It can even can
even provide a sense of hope for some, because of the repeated narrative of going from rags to
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riches that is present in many Hip-Hop songs. Its influence on young people around the world is unique and unlike anything else.
Because of youths of all socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities identifying with Hip-Hop, the authenticity of their different realities within the culture repeatedly comes into question. While for many youths, the themes and lifestyle within Hip-Hop are relatable, but for many others they couldn’t be more imaginary. The popularity and diverse audience of Hip-Hop has brought the term “prep school gangster” into the culture. The term is used to refer to someone, usually white, that identifies with the “gangsta lifestyle” of Hip-Hop, but has too much wealth and privilege to really relate to many of themes present in the music, like poverty and racism. This term only accentuates the fact that stereotypes fuel the self-expression of many of these individuals. Hip-Hop culture allows these kids to feel that they understand and are a part of the “black experience” while not having deal with the negative consequences, because the Hip-Hop audience is so diverse. Kids will copy everything they can to feel involved, right up to the slang and AAVE that is present in much of the music. Because of the now multiple generations of people who have grown up with Hip-Hop, the AAVE used in it has become much more widespread among non-African American people. It has also begun to meld into other dialects due to the incredibly diverse population of the United States and of the Hip-Hop audience.
The AAVE often used in Hip-Hop has led to much conservative backlash. There have been debates over whether AAVE affects the grammar and vocabulary of those who use it in a
negative way, especially those who have grown up hearing it from a young age. There has also
been debate over how the use of AAVE is perceived based on race. A non-African American
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person who uses AAVE may just be viewed as a “culture vulture”, while its use among African Americans can cause people to perceive them as uneducated. This all ties into the issue of “closet racism”, or how people may interact with someone positively while having more ignorant views and feelings towards them on the inside.
As mentioned previously, Hip-Hop receives much criticism over its lyrics, which many people believe causes the glorification of drug use within youth culture. Hip-Hop has produced street names for every drug. “Purple drank” and “lean” are street names for the mixture of soda and cough syrup that contains codeine. “Yayo,” “blow,” and “snow” are all street names for cocaine. “Herb”, “kush”, and “weed” are street names for marijuana. “Molly” is the street name for MDMA. “Xans”, “xannys”, and “bars” are all street names for Xanax, and the list goes on. With songs that regularly shout out drugs with street names like these terms that don’t sound nearly as intimidating as their medical and scientific counterparts, youth culture has been desensitized through Hip-Hop to the true dangers that come with drug use. The ages 12-22 are the time a person’s brain develops the most, and is the age that they are the most susceptible to peer pressure and risky behavior. With the way Hip-Hop lyrics glamorize and normalize drug use, it makes drugs seem like a healthy coping mechanism and a fun way to relax and let loose. Some Hip-Hop artists slam drug use by rapping about its dangers and long-term effects in a way that intends to deter future drug users. Others mention the high substance abuse rates present in
the United States, along with other heavy topics such as high incarceration rates and police brutality, in a positive, politically-charged sense. But with rappers releasing songs about urban
nightlife, wild parties, getting high every day, and referencing drugs with fun street names that
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ignore the true dangers of drug use, the easily impressionable youth within Hip-Hop culture are sure to take influence and see no issue in substance experimentation. They’ll use these street names, which in turn spread through communities and only continue to desensitize the youth to substance abuse.
Hip-Hop has been adored by millions of fans for decades. Hip-Hop’s influence is present in the majority of popular culture and has undeniably left its mark on society, whether that be positive, negative, or even both. Its massive young audience has made Hip-Hop a mainstay of youth culture. Because of the profanity and explicit themes that are in the lyrics of many Hip-Hop songs, the genre and culture has been met with much controversy. The wide array of sounds, cultural and fashion trends, and relatable themes present in Hip-Hop has helped its audience diversify majorly.
With the AAVE present in much of the music, and Hip-Hop being the biggest genre in the United States, the dialect has spread to all ethnic groups. Millions now use the slang words associated with Hip-Hop, which generally isn’t an issue, but many also use the derogatory words with negative connotations that are in many Hip-Hop lyrics. These include the word “nigga”, and words that further perpetuate homophobia and misogyny. Hip-Hop music also features many street names for drugs. These street names normalize and glamorize drug use for youths. Still, Hip-Hop is the indisputable contemporary king of music and popular culture in the United States. People of all ages and races identify with it and are influenced by it in their day to day life. Its popularity has pushed AAVE and slang into the modern English language, for better or for worse.