I'm deeply uncomftorable with the normalisation/legitimisation of misogoyny and homophobia in music (yes mainly "rap" in my experience) and that racism is a no go area (not that I condone racism I just dislike the hypocricy or implication one is worse and that is that and doesn't warrant discussion).
I have heard the cultural relativism argument (its part of person "x" or "y"'s culture, to which I feel no, that is just a dangerous oversimplification and legitimising process which perpetuates hate.
The musician (in the case of rap) is discussing the fictional acts of a character. I don't feel this is made clear enough, specifically in my experience when a number of fans don't see this. Should a musician be held responsible for their fans? I don't know. Are their a lot of cretins who take it all literaly and perpetuate hateful ideas? Yes.
While I am aware rap is not the only culprit (and of course it is not all rap music) I believe no genre is so imbedded within the mainstream as rap.
I have heard the cultural relativism argument (its part of person "x" or "y"'s culture, to which I feel no, that is just a dangerous oversimplification and legitimising process which perpetuates hate.
The musician (in the case of rap) is discussing the fictional acts of a character. I don't feel this is made clear enough, specifically in my experience when a number of fans don't see this. Should a musician be held responsible for their fans? I don't know. Are their a lot of cretins who take it all literaly and perpetuate hateful ideas? Yes.
While I am aware rap is not the only culprit (and of course it is not all rap music) I believe no genre is so imbedded within the mainstream as rap.