Music continues to be a dominate force in Pop Culture

My understanding of pop culture is that it’s whatever is popular during that era. Pop culture consists of several things such as popular movies, TV shows, music, books, food, clothing, etc… In my opinion, pop culture is something iconic, extremely appreciated, as well as respected. It’s something that can inspire a person, something that makes you happy, and it’s something that is generally enjoyed by a large sum of individuals. Pop culture is known to influence trends, as well as people’s lifestyles.
Understanding pop culture is essential in the business environment in that it’s important for organizations and individuals to keep up with new trends in current society so that they can stay competitive. Pop culture is more than just what’s popular; it’s a way of life for a lot of individuals which is why it’s so important that businesses find ways to adapt to current trends to ensure a competitive and compelling place to work. Many people live their lives from what they hear and see from friends, TV, movies, music, and other popular activities that maybe derived from the media.

Rap/Rhythm and Blues Pop Culture

Rap and Rhythm and Blues (R&B) music continues to be one of the most influential pop culture artifacts in the United States. Rap music was created to encourage, motivated, inspire, and educate the general public about what goes on in the “not so good” areas of America. Rap and R&B music are symbols of black culture as they represent more than music, they represent a way of life. Rappers are known to rap about their upbringing and current way of life and for so many “minority” individuals it’s a reflection of their own lives. Poverty, neglect, one-parent homes, victims of welfare, disappointments, as well as accomplishments all can be heard through the sounds of many rap artists/records. R & B artists and music also has traits of storytelling, and it focuses on the black struggles as well as loving one another no matter your race, creed, national origin, sex, or religious affiliation.

According to Mills, F. (2001), white Americans have always been fascinated and expressed fascination with African American culture for years. This sort of fascination has been manifested in music. With that said, rap music has become so huge even the whites have learned how to enjoy, entertain, and make profits off of it. This popular cultural trend has also helped reduce stereotypes, as well as break down racial barriers in America. These are two important factors, especially when it comes to improving diversity in the workplace.

Now, I chose Rap and R&B music as my pop culture artifacts because I feel that this kind of music has truly helped to change the face of America. In my opinion, electing Barack Obama has our 44th President is another prime example of how influential Rap and R&B “black culture” has been inbred into Americans. Again, I truly believe that Rap and R&B music has opened the eyes of many Americans, and it has really cut through the racial barriers in both young and old America.




References:
Mills, F. (2001, December), Magazine Americana, Music: Rap And Young, White Males: Masculinity, Masking And Denial. Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/music/rap_white_men.htm