Running header: RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC YOUTH

Raps Effect on Low-Income Hispanic/Latino Youth

Dylan G. Delgado
Loyola Marymount University

Abstract

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

With the Hispanic/Latino races population on the rise in the U.S., research must be
conducted to understand everything about them, including music preference. This paper
works to help gain a firmer grasp on how the genre of rap, the most dominant genre to
this demographic, effects the actions of these people, in particular, low-income
Hispanic/Latino youth. The results from previous works gave little support to our hunt for
a direct correlation between rap and low-income Hispanic/Latino youth. What we did
find, however, was a strong foundation for more research to come. We define what it
means to be a part of this demographic, discover how rap and hip-hop ignore racial
criteria, how music is representative of the people, and how influential this genre can
truly be on this group of people. This knowledge can help start up a new study on the
direct relationship between rap and the demographic.

Music had always been considered an effective form of communicating with the
masses. Studies have shown that messages and ideologies spoken about in music often

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

times are more influential then messages and ideologies from television shows and
movies. Rap and hip-hop, which are considered to be one in the same, have the raw
potential to heavily influence listeners, especially youth listeners. This genre is extremely
influential on youth, especially low-income youth, due to the fact that a majority of the
artists share similar upbringings as low-income youth fans. While the effect of rap and
hip-hop are very visible in African American youth, little is known of the effect this genre
has on low-income Hispanic/Latino youth. Although there is no direct research done on
the relationship between the two, there is a large amount of evidence that will help us
form our own hypothesis on the relationship.
Formation of Ethnic Identity
To understand what the effect rap music has on low-income Hispanic/Latino
youth, the first step is to understand what it means to be Hispanic/Latino and how this
categorization came to be. Recently, the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States
has grown rapidly. The Hispanic or Latino category was chosen by 35.3 million people
in 2000, making Hispanics the largest ethnic minority group in the United States (U.S.
Census Bureau, 2000). While they have become the largest minority group in the United
States, little is still know of what exactly being Hispanic or Latino entails, which is
something of vital importance. Danielle Montoya and Susana Rinderle (2008) believed
that:
In view of this ethnic groups recent achievement of majority-minority status, it
is vital that political, social, and economic discourse involving this community be
as accurate and respectful of diverse emic preferences as possible, to ensure just
and accurate representation not only in society, but in community research

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

(p.145).
In agreement with Montoya and Rinderle, it is impervious to this study that as much
knowledge of all of what being a person of this race entails in obtained. Unfortunately,
this information is greatly debated. According to Mirande and Tanno (1993), there is a
lack of complete agreement on what the label of Hispanic/Latino is. With so many
different subcategories to the label of Hispanic/Latino and with their frequent usage, the
lack of consensus does not allow us to properly reflect our appreciation for their diverse
and unique heritage (p.145). While it has not been completely defined what exactly it
means to be Hispanic/Latino, we do know that, ethnic identity is learned, consisting of
taught attitudes, values, and language associated with the ethnic group into which we are
born (Martinelli, 1993, p.146-147). With this knowledge, it is easier to understand the
idea of Hispanic/Latino people.
Representation Through Music
Music, including rap and hip-hop, are portrayals of a population. Music is not
just the product of a nation, it is a manifestation of a people, an expression of cultural
meanings that cannot be communicated effectively by other means (Chaffee, 1985,
p.415). Combining this with what was previously written about in the section before, it is
known that music is an expression of the people and a way in which everyones opinion,
for the most part, is heard. From the studies done on this idea of representation, the idea
of using the music medium, especially rap for low-income individuals, is a way of
portraying oneself. It [music] carries meaning at many levels, in lyrics that mix poetry
and prose, in sound that interweaves melody and rhythm (Chaffee, 1985, p.413). While
each song and each lyric is a representation of ones personal ideologies, it should be

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

noted that music, and rap, are also representative of a nation as a whole. Chaffee (1985)
discusses the idea that music, while having the potential to do great things to bring people
together, can also set people and groups of people apart from others, whether it be into
subcultures, by the traditions done, and even by age (p.413). Despite the possibility it has
to alienated certain individuals or groups of individuals, music, and rap, still continues
draw audiences in. Chaffee (1985) goes on to say:
Listening to music is the most universal mass communication behavior, requiring
neither literacy nor advanced electronic media... The ease of entry into the world
of music and its low cost may help to account for its marked prevalence among
young people (p.416).
Due to the fact that rap not only is representative for a group of people including low
income Hispanic/Latino youth, combined with its low cost and lack of nearly any skills
other than the ability to hear, rap has become very important in the lives of low income
Hispanic/Latino youth across the nation. However, being that rap and hip-hop is a
notoriously African American genre of music, it still needs to be looked into how this
style of music effects other racial groups, but most importantly, in regards to this study,
low income Hispanic/Latino youth.
Bridging the Gap
Since becoming a mainstream genre of music in the late 1980s, rap has been
affiliated with one race and one race only, which happen to be African Americans.
According to Armstrong (2004), the idea of rap as a one race genre is becoming a ting
of the past. With an influx of non-Black artist finding success in the genre, rap is
becoming more universal (p.39). With artists such as Eminem and MGK, who are both

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

white rappers, and Fat Joe and Pitbull, who are of Hispanic/Latino decent, rap is no
longer a Black dominated genre. It is something very unique about the genre. It speaks
volumes of the genre as a whole that what was once dominated by one singular race is
now becoming more universal in terms of racial involvement. In an interview done a few
years age, Eminem, in agreement with the point of the genre becoming multi-racial,
stated that at a show, I see all nationalities there for one thing. You dont see that...at a
country show. You dont see that...at a rock show. Its hip-hop thats doing it (Cummings
& Roy, 2002, p.72).
Rap is becoming known for it contention of racial boundaries in an attempt to
bridge the gap between all races. By allowing anyone with the talent to become a top tier
rap artist, despite his race, sets an example for others to follow. By showcasing skills
and toughness, the relevancy of skin color is diminished and the argument that neither
biological variations nor cultural behavior are genetically determined is reinforced.
This...focuses on similarities, solidarity, and racial and cultural understanding (Fraley,
2009, p.46). Thomas (1996) added that not only does music have the capability to reflect
society, but it also has the ability to overcome socially constructed barriers, as well as set
a new standard for how to act (p.42). While there is much research conducted on the
potential influence that rap, and music as a whole, has on popular culture, more research
needs to be conducted on the effect it can have on youth, especially low-income
Hispanic/Latino youth.
Overall Influence-Ability
After assessing the studies done on what it means to be Hispanic/Latino, how
music and rap represent people, and how rap has become a much more race-accepting

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

genre, it is time to delve into research done on the level in which Hispanic/Latino youth
are influenced. It has been well documented that the more one does of something,
regardless of race, the more influential it becomes. Repeated and prolonged media
exposure has sparked concern about its effects on youths attitudes and behaviors
(Hecht, & Lee, 2010, p.201). This has also become a concern for individuals who
become addicted to the rap and hip-hop genre. There has been a heated debate about
whether or not to limit what is being said on rap songs. Very often songs involve drug
use, alcoholism, and casual sex, that can potentially harm youth who find this genre and
the words being spoken by their favorite artists. According to Slater and Rasinski (2005),
youth nowadays find what they see on television or what they hear in music to be
acceptable and attempt to imitate the act being portrayed in order become more in touch
with the artist. Even if it is something the young fan has never experienced before, what
is heard or seen in music and on television is taken as truth and mimicked. Unfortunately,
what the youth of today fail to see is that what they see is not always what is actually
true. The proportion of media portrayals that involve alcohol and drug consumption is
higher than what actually takes place in reality (Hazan, Lipton, & Glantz, 1994).
This issue of media overplaying the usage of drugs and alcohol is even more of an
issue for Hispanic/Latino people. Being that Hispanic/Latino youth often times feel
alienated in terms of media, whenever more American style media is introduced, it
takes twice the effect on them. Greenberg, Heeter, Doctor, Burgoon, & Korzenny (1983)
believed that:
Media scholars contend that mainstream English media enable immigrants to
adopt knowledge and social perceptions regarding the host culture..., whereas

RAPS EFFECT ON LOW-INCOME HISPANIC/LATINO YOUTH

exposure to ethnic media hinders the acculturation process and helps maintains
and enhance cultural norms and values associated with ones culture of origin
(p.200).
What this is essentially saying is that while being exposed to Americanized media,
Hispanic/Latino youth are not only going to accept it as true, they are going to put it into
practice in hopes of become more Americanized themselves.
Conclusion
From the studies looked at throughout the course of this writing, a lot of
information about how rap and low income Hispanic/Latino youth can potentially effect
each other. While much of the research found for this report help us garner an idea of
what the relationship between rap music and low income Hispanic/Latino youth could be,
there is no direct relationship discussed anywhere between the two. This leads me to my
research question; How does rap music influence low income Hispanic youth?

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