Depression and Rap?

[f8nacn]

Originally Posted by Sophist08edLady

does art imitate life or does life imitate art?

I believe its a combination...depending on the artist...they may choose to illustrate their inner struggles, their joys, their pains, their victories...while others choose to portray something that they don't truly know about because they want to go along with the mainstream, that which is being presented by others...its more so my story is worse than your story type of mentality...why I don't know, it just doesn't appear to be logical (to me) to paint a picture for the world that I've gone through all these struggles to sell a record because that's what "the world" wants to hear...Why front about it? Why talk about something that you haven't experienced...or embellish the truth?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by f8nacn

I believe its a combination...depending on the artist...they may choose to illustrate their inner struggles, their joys, their pains, their victories...while others choose to portray something that they don't truly know about because they want to go along with the mainstream, that which is being presented by others...its more so my story is worse than your story type of mentality...why I don't know, it just doesn't appear to be logical (to me) to paint a picture for the world that I've gone through all these struggles to sell a record because that's what "the world" wants to hear...Why front about it? Why talk about something that you haven't experienced...or embellish the truth?

same reason why/how erotica writers "choose to illustrate their inner struggles, their joys, their pains, their victories...while others choose to portray something that they don't truly know about because they want to go along with the mainstream." some spit the realness, and others "talk about something that you haven't experienced...or embellish the truth."

grabs attention, makes money, keeps you coming back for more.

[Sophist08edLady]

Originally Posted by f8nacn

Why front about it? Why talk about something that you haven't experienced...or embellish the truth?

Because the reality is that it sells records...money, women, bling, popp'in Cris and sipp'in Henni in the VIP room . These images have been pumped into the brains of our youth as a symbol of success. The youth are the number one consumers of music CDs, so the images are portrayed to attract and impress the consumer (hence the immature images of so-called status). Therefore, I believe that yes, we do have a lot of undiagnosed depression in the AA community, however, and again I did not read the book so I do not know if the research data was presented on this study, but there would have to be strong quantifiable evidence to link depression to rap music.

[f8nacn]

Originally Posted by Sophist08edLady

there would have to be strong quantifiable evidence to link depression to rap music.

That is very true...however, when I was in college I remember taking a class and one of my professors said that those paying for the research to be done will always get the results that THEY are looking for, not always the "truth".

[Sophist08edLady]

Originally Posted by f8nacn

That is very true...however, when I was in college I remember taking a class and one of my professors said that those paying for the research to be done will always get the results that THEY are looking for, not always the "truth".

In some ways this may be true, but we are talking about a human subject study not "1 out of 10 people choose Coke over Pepsi". There are guidelines and ethical ramifications for those who tamper with the results of studies. I know that sometimes numbers can be "tweeked", but I am a true beliver in scientifical inquiry, a true researcher presents the facts no matter what they may be...In God I trust, all others must bring data ! I would def like to see the data on a study about depression and rappers. From the excerpts of the book on Amazon, it does not appear that Ms. Morgan is a researcher, rather she is a journalist. Journalists often get paid to sensationalize situations, stories, or reports to make them interesting and worthy to sell. Nonetheless, it appears that this book may be a good read for entertainment.

[SummerChild]

Originally Posted by Sophist08edLady

In some ways this may be true, but we are talking about a human subject study not "1 out of 10 people choose Coke over Pepsi". There are guidelines and ethical ramifications for those who tamper with the results of studies. I know that sometimes numbers can be "tweeked", but I am a true beliver in scientifical inquiry, a true researcher presents the facts no matter what they may be...In God I trust, all others must bring data ! I would def like to see the data on a study about depression and rappers. From the excerpts of the book on Amazon, it does not appear that Ms. Morgan is a researcher, rather she is a journalist. Journalists often get paid to sensationalize situations, stories, or reports to make them interesting and worthy to sell. Nonetheless, it appears that this book may be a good read for entertainment.

Hi Soror, I don't think that Joan Morgan is presenting the information from the viewpoint of a research study but moreso from her own viewpoint as what she calls herself - a hip hop feminist if i recall correctly (or maybe i'm confusing that with another book). At any rate, it's basically a book about her thoughts about hip hop. I don't think that she means it to be a publication of any results of a research study.

I can appreciate the desire for concrete evidence as I was an engineer and scientist in my former life, however, I think that this book is more of the flavor of an extended editorial from a "self-proclaimed hip hopper."

SC