Cecilia Galatolo
Why do young people like trap music so much? Is it a musical revolution or is it a symptom of a cultural degradation of the age groups that listen to it? Every era has its own musical genre: jazz, rock and roll, pop, etc. Every genre has been criticized because since they initially might have seemed obscene, and older generations thought that it might lead young people astray. Eventually, they were re-evaluated and the older generations changed their minds. For example, think of just how much people criticized Elvis Presley’s music in the ‘50s, or The Doors’ and even The Beatles’ music in the ‘60s. The bourgeoisie felt like it was “the devil’s music.” I challenge anyone today to call the music made by The Beatles, Elvis, and The Doors a bad influence on young people. No one can bring oneself to assert such a thing. Maybe it’s true that novelty frightens people who think critically. But does this argument also apply to trap music? Let’s work through it together.
What is trap music?
Trap music began in the American south in the early ‘90s as a subgenre of rap.
Etymologically speaking, the word “trap” is related to the expression “trap house” and refers to old abandoned houses in the “ghetto” neighborhoods of Atlanta – a hot spot for drug dealing and substance abuse. “Trap” also refers to the concept of becoming trapped, an experience that often comes about once a person falls into the world of substance abuse. They often feel like they’ve become slaves of the dangerous lifestyle. This is how trap music begins: the songs tell stories of these young people who are left to their own devices in these abandoned houses, who take refuge in alcohol and drugs as they search for redemption, which eventually brings about economic prosperity from “dirty deals.” The key message is that one can succeed with music.
Messages sent through words and images
To think of a piece of music without associating a video with it – which might send a message even before the lyrics themselves – is impossible in the digital age. Today, music is sold through images… and trap is certainly no exception.
In the video clips of these songs, there are often abandoned houses in the background; the atmosphere tends to be dark and gloomy, and there are clear references to a lifestyle revolving around drugs, sex, easy money, luxury cars, and designer clothes, jewelry, and watches. There are often insults thrown at the police, and women are treated as mere objects. Relationships are devoid of tenderness and respect. Trap music, therefore, represents a world that promises a good life and fun, while in all actually, it enslaves people. It’s mainly aimed at those who dream of vindication after a life of hardship and suffering. Self-affirmation, however, comes about through excess and exploitation of others.
Trap music should not be ignored. It shines light on social unrest
Every cultural phenomenon has a reason behind it. Trap music came about to shine light a social malaise. Some youth listen to it just because it’s become trendy, but the very fact that it’s trendy must make us question the real cause behind it.
Words often express what’s going on inside us. What comes out of our mouths is often what we carry inside. Aggressive remarks may reveal a wounded soul, which therefore wounds others. A while back, we talked about the baby gang phenomenon. We had said that kids need to be seen and heard. They need to be understood and accepted. This attention-seeking behavior can also be found in poor, violent, and even dangerous behavior. A similar argument could be made for those who are into trap music.
Teens – or even pre-teens – are captured by it because it gives them a way to feel seen, to say “I, too, exist,” to assert their personality, and to hide their fragility.
Young people also identify with the trap artist himself. They’d like to be like him, since he seems like a self-confident guy who’s got swagger and is gratified by a sense of approval. He feels like a winner, since he’s rich.
Reflecting on the content of the texts together
Ignoring the fact that young people are attracted to all this doesn’t help. Adults have the duty to try to understand, to decode the messages the youth are receiving. As the writer Alessandro D’Avenia asserts, it’s important to sit and listen to trap with a young person and ask him/her about the messages it’s sending and reflect on them together. Of course, it’s not like he/she always relates to what the singer is talking about, but sometimes he/she just listens to it because his/her peers do. Homologating to the group is more important than anything else at certain stages in life.
If an adult happens to notice a young person humming a song with degrading content, without paying attention to the vulgarity and harshness of the lyrics, it’s important that the adult, instead of ignoring or judging them, take the time to think with them: “Do you relate to what these lyrics are saying? Do the messages align with the values with which you were raised? Do women deserve to be treated this way? Is easy money really what you want most in life?”
Offer alternatives
In addition, we should offer some alternatives. We should educate them on the history of music, for example, by listening to old albums, CDs, cassettes, etc. Vinyl, which are now mostly the classics, often contained messages of political and social protest, but also of love and peace. Just think of all the American music that came out during the Vietnam War. After all, music, whatever genre it is, has this magical power: to give a voice to the growing pains and challenges of its time, transform it into revolution, and push people to seek change.
