Hip-hop’s violent reputation has long been blamed for glamorizing criminal lifestyles.
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, hip-hop superstar 50 Cent, was asked if he feels as if his music and image have added to the glorification of gun violence. In the wake of the December, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and several other incidents, gun violence has been a hot-button issue. 50 Cent and several other rappers have voiced their thoughts on gun control.
But in terms of whether or not Fiddy feels he has contributed to gun violence, his answer was unequivocal. “No!” When asked if his music glorifies violence, he said, “I think I’m flattered actually when they say that to me because it would mean I have such a strong hold on the youth or people in general that it completely changes their thought process and that my music is that powerful. Rap’s more than guns and violence. Yeah, it’s a lot more. It’s writing. If you were doing that (writing) and didn’t actually experience it, I would say you’re glorifying it (violence). If you’re drawing from something from you actually experienced, isn’t art imitating life?”
Throughout it’s history, hip-hop has been criticized for its link to violence…
