Study Finds Drug References Up 600 Percent In Rap Music

New York, NY (CNS) - Drugs are increasingly glamorized in rap music and according to a study that found the number of drug references in the genre have increased by 600 percent since the style was conceptualized in 1979. Researchers who analyzed the lyrics of the most popular rap songs of the past 30 years cite that the music has changed from warning against drugs, to in fact glorifying the use of drugs.

Based on the study, mentions of cannabis and "blunts," marijuana-stuffed cigars, doubled between 1979 and 1997; a big jump since only 11 percent of the researched rap songs contained drug references between 1979 and 1984. During the late 1980s, this increased to 19 percent and after 1993, an estimated 69 percent of the rap songs referred to drug use.

"Positive portrayals of drug use have increased over time, and drug references increased overall. This is an alarming trend as rap artists are role models for the nation's youth, especially in urban areas. Many of these young people are already at risk and need to get positive messages from the media," said Dr. Denise Herd, who spearheaded the research.

According to the study, parents are left clueless more often than not because many of the drug references are hidden in street slang. "Much of what is discussed in rap is in code. The kids understand but parents don't," Herd said.

Dr .Herd, from the University of California at Berkeley, looked for references to drugs in 341 of the most popular rap songs released between 1979 and 1997. She found that drugs were increasingly used to signify glamor, wealth and sociability.