mysterious as the dark side of the moon

I hadn't really thought about the influence that music has on young boys and men until watching both Bro Code and Generation M. I didn't factor in the music videos and constant usage of this type of influential music. Looking up the lyrics to songs from Drake, Kanye West, and J. Cole (the most familiar names I could think of) really opened up my eyes to what both male and female youth listen to on a daily basis and how we let it effect our lives. Personally, I don't listen to the radio (not because I'm cool or hip but because the depressing music I tend to enjoy can only be found in the dark recesses of my Spotify account) but I'm very familiar with most rap artists because they have also become famous for various other reasons other than their music. Their personas are upheld in pop culture by their pursuits in entrepreneurship like alcohol lines, clothing lines, shoe lines, and who they are dating. The information to their personal lives can all be found in their lyrics.

 Drake can be found talking about many different women in his life through his music. In his very popular song "Hotline Bling" he talks about a girl he "used to know" presumably from his hometown, that is now acting quite scandalous and he most certainly does not approve:

Used to always stay at home, be a good girl

You was in a zone, yeah

You should just be yourself

Right now, you're someone else

It's funny how he is so sure of how this woman should act like and be a "good girl." This is a theme I have found in many other songs where the man is telling a woman how they should be if they want to be desired. Is it right to be teaching men that women need to be told what to do for their own good?

Another artist who is no stranger to controversy is the very colorful tropical fish, Kanye West. He has an endless amount of music in which he clearly enjoys putting people (and especially women) down for his own gain and pleasure. In his song, "30 Hours," West talks about an ex, a "bitch," a "Wifey," and other girls. 

'Cause you was in college complainin' about it's no jobs
But you were suckin' a nigga dick the whole time
Well I guess a blowjob's better than no job

Here West is implying that this woman he is compelling about should just be happy with "sucking' a nigga dick." When I think of young boys hearing this kind of music I think of how they will believe later on in life that women are just sexual objects that need to be tamed. This is not the message that boys should receive. I can see how songs like this can effect the kinds of relationships men have with women in their lives, not just girlfriends but sisters and mothers as well. If women are nothing more than objects then they surely don't need respect, right?