CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Hip hop music, commonly known as rap music, is a popular music genre that originated in the United States in the 1970s among inner-city African Americans and Latinos in the Bronx borough of New York City (eduprojectsng 2019). Hip-Hop culture and rap music arose from a milieu that was oppressive at the same time as unyieldingly inventive. Despite operating in a distinct environment, modern rap music has these features. Rap music is now woven into the fabric of popular culture (projectclue 2020). Rap music now incorporates both creativity from places of injustice and tyranny and innovation from places of uncontrolled riches and success. Contemporary rap music listeners do not neatly fit into preconceived demographic genres(Iwamoto et al. 2017). Consumers of all ages, racial and ethnic groups, genders, and geographic regions are found by us. In some circles, hip-hop is lauded, while in others, it is derided. (Rose 2018).

Youth refers to the period of one's life when one is young, and it usually refers to the period between childhood and adulthood (maturity). "The aspect, freshness, vitality, spirit, etc., characteristic of a youthful person" is another definition. Youth is neither defined chronologically as a stage that can be attached to precise age ranges, nor can its end point be linked to specific behaviors, such as doing unpaid employment or having sexual encounters, hence its definitions of a specific age range vary.

The act or process of changing pieces of something, or the act or process of modifying something, is known as modification. the act or practice of replacing or modifying components of something Modification is the act or process of changing something(Armstrong, 2010).

According to Forman & Neal (2013) During the last decade, a rising body of conceptual and empirical research on hip hop music has emerged, indicating the genre's near-unprecedented popularity. Hip hop and hip hop music are studied in a wide range of subjects in academia, including psychology, sociology, mass communication, education, social work, political science, economics, gender, and urban and cultural studies (Tyson, 2013a). The variety of academic fields represented in the literature on hip hop music and culture has corresponded with a widespread appeal of this genre that appears to have crossed all racial or ethnic, cultural, social class, and geographic borders (Chang, 2015). While the hip hop music industry has been praised for its financial success and global appeal, there have also been complaints, some of which are true and others which are erroneous. One of the most common criticisms of hip hop music is its apparent desire for violent, sexist, and misogynistic images, as well as what many consider as the glorifying of drugs and alcohol, which can be seen being mimicked by young people. The excessive media emphasis given to bad, often "gangsta" hip hop music is largely to blame for this dismissive impression of hip hop music, which is rarely referenced in literatures (Armstrong, 2010). It's possible that if "positive and constructive" hip hop music received the same level of radio and television exposure as its negative cousin, more people would be aware of it(Elligan, 2013; Tyson, 2012, 2013b). It's possible that a more balanced public impression of the hip hop music industry will result. Throughout the literature, there are numerous interpretations of popularly held views and conceptions of hip hop music (Lynxwiler & Gay, 2016)

Lynxwiler & Gay, (2016) Hip hop music lyrics have been more explicit in terms of youth references to drugs, sex, and violence over time, according to the study. They conducted a content analysis of the top ten CDs released by the National Institute on Media in 2011, and found that each of these CDs contained at least one song with sexual content. On these CDs, 42 percent of the songs included very graphic sexual content. Some music genres' lyrics, such as rock, heavy metal, rap, and new emerging genres like reggaeton, have been discovered to contain tautology, death, violence, suicide, and substance addiction.

However, looking at the situation today one can suggests that the plight of the hip hop music and popular culture of the westerners is on invasion in our religious and social structures which has really influenced the behavior and the life style of youths. The import of popular cultures, which are often learned through foreign music videos, appears to be eroding African and traditional cultural values and norms. Not only that, the sexual content and violence scenes in hip hop music videos and lyrics have greatly influenced the life style and behavior of Nigerian youth, resulting in increased crime in the society.. Therefore, the focus of this research study is Hip Hop Music for Youth Modification.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

On a daily basis, youth are exposed to popular hip hop music via radio, television, movies, newspapers, and magazines. The popularity of hip-hop music has sparked broad interest in a genre that has been chastised for its bad lyrical content. However, hip-hop music does not only have a negative influence on youths; it also has a beneficial impact.

The period between childhood reliance and adult responsibility is a unique life stage in which young people seek to develop autonomy while also belonging to a group. As young people strive to define themselves, popular music pervades the media and "assists in cementing a larger social constellation tying media depictions of hip hop stars and superstars, as well as certain musical genres, to specific peer groups, cliques, or gangs." They went on to say that youth express themselves through group affiliation and popular culture choices. Hip hop music, in all of its forms, provides a set of wardrobe, speech, and behavioral patterns to imitate. As a result, it has a strong potential to mold their conduct into the wrong pattern or the appropriate pattern. Recently, hip hop music and the popular culture to which young people are exposed have been accused of presenting violence, and the influence on Nigerian youths' and society's conduct has been devastating.

Sex scenes, nudity, profanity, vulgar language, indecent clothes, killings, murder, beating up women, smoking, molestation, and harassment are some of the explicit images in hip hop music videos and lyrics. These are self-destructive in character and may have a significant impact on young people. Furthermore, one concerning aspect of these hip hop music and also videos is that none of the musicians actively promotes the prevention of the harmful inclinations depicted on film. Furthermore, the government and its institutions have failed to fully control violent hip hop music and movies that promote social evils and violence in society.

Furthermore, young people who are glued to watching and listening to hip hop music and videos frequently exhibit foreign culture and behaviors without even realizing it. Nigeria was not previously recognized as a nation prone to suicide, but since the arrival of hip hop music on Nigerian land, the rate of suicide has skyrocketed due to some of the suggestions made by these hip hop musicians and some of the fantastic graphic pictures featured in their music videos. Therefore this study center on Hip Hop Music for Youth Modification.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to examine hip hop music for youth modification. Other specific objectives of the study are:

1) To examine the history and origin of hip hop music

2) To examine the influence of hip hop music on the modification of youths in Nigeria

3) To examine sexual objectification & violence obtainable in hip hop music videos.

4) To Examine Impact of Hip Hop Music on Youth Concepts of Violence and Aggression

5) To examine other factor that influence behavior of youths in Nigeria

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) What is the history and origin of hip hop music?

2) What is the influence of hip hop music on the modification of youths in Nigeria?

3) What is the sexual objectification & violence obtainable in hip hop music videos?

4) What is the Impact of Hip Hop Music on Youth Concepts of Violence and Aggression?

1.5   RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO1: Hip Hop Music does not have a significant influence on the behavioral modification of youths

HA: Hip Hop Music has a significant influence on the behavioral modification of youths

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This study is relevance to the government, the music industry in Nigeria, the media, and general public and prospective researchers.

Government will benefits from the findings and recommendations made in this work because it will enlighten them more on hip hop music for youth modification and will further guide them in policy formulation.

The research work would aid the Nigerian music business since it will serve as a complete tool to educate industry participants about their role in shaping healthier behaviors in society. The findings and recommendations presented in this article would benefit Nigerian media outlets by assisting them in determining what type of music and culture they should promote. This work's information will be useful not only to the general public, but also to future generations. As a result, the general public will be well informed about the impact of music on societal behavior levels. Also, prospective researchers will find this work very relevant as it will serve as a guide line in developing something more similar to this work.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY   

The scope of this study is hip hop music for youth modification

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

HIP HOP MUSIC: Hip-Hop music is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music originally created by DJs isolating the percussion breaks of popular songs, sometimes with two turntables to extend the breaks. Hip-Hop music commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted.

YOUTH: youth', are those Persons between the ages of 15 and 24 Years, without prejudice to other definitions by Member States.

Modification: A modification is a change or alteration, usually to make something work better. If you want to change something

Behavior: Behavior is the actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment.