Teenagers might pick up new slang language from the lyrics in rap music, and might choose to dress in fashions inspired by their favorite rappers. This can be traced to a desire to be considered as "cool" by their peers. The inclusion of swear words in the lyrics of many rap songs has prompted the African-American TV personality Bill Cosby to advise parents to "turn the TV set off".
A study published by the American Journal of Public Health in 2003 sampled 522 African-American girls in Birmingham, Alabama. It found that those who watched more rap videos were more likely to have been involved with anti-social behavior such as violence against teachers, or to have been arrested. They were also more likely to have contracted a sexually-transmitted disease, drunk alcohol and taken drugs. The academics responsible admit, however, that "because potential mediating factors were not assessed, it is difficult to determine whether the relation between exposure to rap music videos and adolescents' health status was causal". They go on to suggest that the teenagers involved in anti-social behaviors could be those who are "striving for independence and autonomy"; in other words, watching rap videos could have reflected such children's desire to rebel, rather than causing it.
Much of the parental concern around rap music is caused by fears that teenagers might be looking up to successful rappers as role models. Alvin Poussaint, a Harvard psychiatry professor, has stated that black children are the most likely to aspire to the lifestyles described by the predominantly black artists in rap music. Clinical psychologist Don Elligan has raised concerns that some young people, particularly those who don't have strong, positive support from their parents or educators, might not be able to perceive that rap music is a form of artistic release, and may believe that it describes "a type of reality", to which they then aspire.
Not all rap music is violent, misogynistic or crude. Some rappers use positive lyrics, in an attempt to engage young listeners and offer them a hopeful message. If your teenage child shows an interest in rap music, consider encouraging them to write lyrics of their own, as this could lead them to develop a creative talent and express their emotions for themselves, rather than relying upon the words of other artists. Also, as some rap and hip-hop records are based on "samples" from older funk and R&B records from the 1960s and 70s, exposure to them can lead to a broadening of the teenager's musical and cultural sense. Linking modern-day records to older music favored by their parents could, in the long-term, help foster stronger bonds between the generations.