The article is about the history of rap. It talks about how it emerge and the different eras that rap has passed through, from Old School Era, to the Golden Era, and then to the Platinum Present. it does quickly glance on the controversy that rap has created. I will probably use this as just more background knowledge or a base point to be referenced back to, because even thought similar to the encyclopedia entry, this article does provide additional information.

Most point to the 80s and 90s as the rise of gangster rap.

This article is about how through his interactions with the youth, this author has come to the conclusion that mainstream rap does seem to give wrong mindsets to teens. However, mainstream rap is not the best example of what rap has to offer. In the right hands, rap can actually be very beneficial to young minds. I will use this article to explain why rap is viewed in a negative light, and how being exposed to actually good rappers makes for better mindsets.

This article talks about both sides of the arguments. It provides evidence that shows correlation between violent acts and violence lyrics. Yet, it also shows that rap is a wide genre and there are rappers who are trying to teach through their art. I will use this article to give a more unbiased view of rap.

This article discusses a student that was punished for posting a rap song on the internet, with then big name rappers coming to his aid to protect his First Amendment. As the rapper Killer Mike argues, rap was used by the student to express himself. Though the article is more about school censorship, I can use this to explain how the First Amendment is a right and therefore rap should not be banned.

This article discusses the positive change that hip hop enthusiasts are trying to produce. Some have created organizations that encourage learning through rap and that promote rappers who talk about things other than sex and violence. This article argues that rap need to get back to its roots of being a voice for the people. I will use this article to show how people are trying to use rap to bring change.

This is what I usually see in rap discussion, people saying how they relate to the song and find comfort in knowing that they are not the only what that goes through hardships and that they can be overcome.

This article provides evidence against rap. It connects rap music and its negative portrayal of violence and women and how they cause people to become more accepting of violence. Using research and data, immediately this article becomes credible. I will use it as more support towards rap's bad influence, more specifically, support with data.

Again, I find myself agreeing. From what I can gather, rap has cause wrongful thinking among society because of this popularization of violence. Yet, I cannot ignore all of the conscious rappers that brought issues to surface. The way that I see it, this era that started in the 1980's of over exaggerated violence is just a dark phase that rap has passed thru. Hopefully, rap goes back to a more fulfilling message, with forerunners such as Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike, and J Cole, very popular rappers of current day.

I have to agree with this statement.

This article discusses various hip hip artists who have donate money. Many famous artist have a lot of money and so decide to give to charity. This brings into perspective that even though rappers rap about being cold, in reality they actually care. I can use this to point out how rappers also use their money that they earn through their music to give back to the community and help other people in struggle.

Two very good questions. I think under the first amendment, like it says in the article, any speech should be protected.

This article brings into light real life examples of where gangster rap might have felicitate violent behavior. The author brings as evidence rap lyrics and court cases where the artist has being put on the spot for their lyrics. He argues that rappers are role models that through their songs make lawless actions seem okay in the eyes of the youth. This is really good evidence, and really the whole article is evidence, about how rap may have influence people to commit violent acts such as murder.

This article goes deep into the discussion of how rap music provides positive outlets. Its categorizes the effects into themes of Unification and Education, Hope, Social Awareness, Providing Support, Entertainment, and Programs. It really shows a more general way that rap has made an impact. i might use this to provide evidence of how rap helps, but the only bad aspect of this source is that I do not see clear evidence.

This is a good quote to transition into how rap is a positive force.

This article brings up the question, "can rap be used to teach"? With rap being a popular form of music, maybe teaching with rap will teachers be better able to get their message across. This seems to be the case with other organization sprouting out that support the emergence of teaching school subjects with a catchy beat. I feel like I can use this at the end, to show the possibilities of where rap can be taken instead of just being closed to rap and not being productive with it, as how some rappers have done.

I actually would have enjoyed some type of learning like this. Learning information through song makes it easier to memorize and more enjoyable. Like the article says, it engages the students.

At this point, I do think that rap has created a bad impact on society, but overall I think they have provided more good qualities.

This encyclopedia entry traces back the origins of rap and/or hip-hop. Talking about the pioneers, it is pointed out that rap is generally known as a form of black music, with many influences culturally and musically such as jazz, blues, and song poetry. The article furthers the expansion of rap, with its different styles, and its impact in the music world. I will most likely use this as background information and to provide context about rap.

I remembering hearing once that good music with good lyrics helps in having a good mindset because it makes for those lyrics to be easy to repeat to yourself, reinforcing beliefs, which can mean positive or negative beliefs.

The article discusses the how music has a big impact on the brain of individuals. Musicians tend to have a larger part of their brain than average people. Music has the power to make a big impression on people, constantly being their in the head. I could use this to back up the idea that rap music is in fact a powerful factor that is affecting the brain and should not just be taking lightly.

The author discusses how an ex gangster supports the notion that rap can glorify drugs and alcohol. He points out how because of seeing in movies pimps and gangbangers, he wanted to be like that and rap music further emphasized that type of life. This article could be use as a more personal evidence to show from a primary source that rap did influence him in acting in this illegal behavior.

I think this is another major issue in deciding if rap overall is bad, because it all depends on what is being listen to, but I do see Brown's point.

This seems to give more credibility that rap has bad side affects in the streets.

I agree with the author and its why I have an issue with this culture around rap. For a section of time, rap was mainly about how much money and women the singers had, and that is a big generalization. However, more recently with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Killer Mike, rap seems to be becoming again a form to bring light to social and political issues.

A common argument against rap: its sexist.

The article discusses how there is this conflict in what represents rap. One one side, their are quite a few songs that seem to sexism, objectifying females in their lyrics and females. Yet, on the other hand rap has become an artistic outlet for talented people to speak their minds about issues and to express their art. I'll probably use this to discuss both support and distaste for rap.

I might be at a bias because most of the rap that I listen to is political rap like Immortal Technique's and of other more interesting topics. I have not really listen to gangster rap and so don't feel its affects, but rap for me has made me think more about issues in society.

This is what I am trying to argue, has rap been more positive or negative with its influence. Is it good because it gives voice to the voiceless, or is it bad because some seem to glorify gangster life.

This article discusses Hip-hop and its influence. The author recognizes that hip-hop was affected culture, politics, and even education. Many have use this platform to bring forward activist agendas. I think I will use this to back up the notion that hip-hop has become an integral part of society to be reckoned with.

Compared to this people, the author does make what the rappers do seem even more out of taste.

This is true, Being a rapper and a basketball paper are the usual.

This article discusses about how rappers are bringing down the image of the black community. The author references and points out most of the absurd imagery and language that the rappers often engage with that spread a negative image of black people. The rappers and the industry do this just to make money. I can use this in my paper give credit that rap might cause a negative influence on society.

Another article by Tom Chiarella, The Invisible Grip essay now deals with the subject of eye-contact. Chiarella, wanting to deal with what he is writing about personally, sets out to master his eye-contact skills. Through these interactions, the author comes to various comprehensions and learns the benefits of having good eye-contact when relating to people. This article I can use to further emphasize that learning body language is a tool, and might even argue a necessity, when talking to people.

In the article the Art of the Handshake, by Tom Chiarella, the author goes on a more personal tangent of his experience with handshakes. Chiarella sets out to practice and perfect his handshake, which he comments that though it might be a societal obligation the handshake is a lot more telling. Different types of handshakes are more appropriate for different social interactions, and they set up a first impression of who you are to the other person. I might use this for my essay, supporting the notion that body language is a huge factor in communication.

This article by Malcolm Gladwell goes deep into the reading of body language, specifically that of the face. Recounting the history of study in this field, Gladwell interviews Paul Ekman, a leading researcher in the decoding of human facial expressions, and what he has learned, like the presence of "micro-expressions" and that the way we communicate with our body causes humans to produce feelings based on the body. Gladwell additionally provides numerous examples of how the reading of the face is applicable and even life saving in real world situations. ---- I can use this article to support that notion that the reading of body language is an important skill to acquire.

The comparison that the author uses towards adolescence make me completely agree with the author in this last part.

This whole paragraph kind of addresses the comment I made just before it, and glad that it did address this.

Though I get that this is very common, and maybe being part of this generation is what is speaking here, but I think that it is something that should not be used to measure adulthood. Not everybody wants to have children or get married. I understand that the same could be said about the rest of the criteria, but I feel that this criteria cuts more adults from being identified as adults.

In this article, the author gives a view into a conversation that she has with her sister, adding unique note the the article. Overall, the author mentions how This time is not the most ideal time to be young. This generation is having a hard time finding jobs and earning what they are worth. The closing sentence summarizes the article well, "this generation will not be better off than its parents".

For some reason, it took me a while to understand what the author was arguing, but this sentences just clarifies her argument completely.She is arguing that AIDs awareness has not really solve the problem but had just made things worse by causing anxiety in people.

That whole paragraph really conveyed to me the author's paranoia, which the author creates by having long sentences, listing scenarios, and repeating the word "again".

The author uses metaphor and imagery to further his point.

The author makes this great comparison with the Great Depression by naming the even the "Great Disappointment".

I think that this is a powerful closing statement that leaves a strong impression in the mind.

I think he includes this sentence to show that even in an unrelated event both parties are trying to be relevant.