Teenagers often adopt a certain types of music or artist as their favorite because of a desire to coincide with their friends and classmates. Most teens feel the desire to try to fit in. They feel like something is wrong with them if they do not like the same things as their peer group. According to the Sunday Times, a study was performed on teenagers to find out how well they liked songs if they knew its rating with others. Almost a quarter of the time, teenagers increased their rating of a song if it was popular among others in their age group.
Teenagers are maturing not only mentally but physically as well. This includes sexual feelings. Teens are experiencing out-of-control hormones that they don't understand. Music has an effect on this as well. Pop music often features young girls that dress provocatively. Young girls can be influenced to dress this way as well. Rap and rock music sometimes depict sex and promiscuity in a positive light, leading teens to believe that this way of life is acceptable.
While there are plenty of rap songs that have a positive message, an unfortunate percentage of them seem to glamorize drugs in general. This includes actual drug use, as well as the entire drug trade. Even dealing drugs as a business is sometimes put on a pedestal. Teenagers are at a point in their lives where they will be exposed to drugs anyway, and the message of some rap and rock musicians can cause them to want to experiment. A teen may look into selling drugs instead of getting a normal job because they mistakenly attach it to their musical heroes extravagant lifestyles.
Your child will resent you if you simply ration out exactly what they should be listening to. Instead, monitor it from as far away as possible. Find out what their tastes are and embrace them at first. Not all rap music is bad. Not all rock music encourages bad behaviors. Listen to their music with an open mind. Observe the teen's habits. Most normal teens will be just fine regardless of what music they choose to listen to. If the teen seems set on a particularly disturbing kind of music, there may be reason for concern. If the teen starts to get into trouble, exhibits signs of drug use, or is becoming sexually promiscuous, it may be time to consider their musical choices as a part of the solution.