Glorification of Drugs and Violence In Modern Music Is Very Dangerous

by Hannah Lee ‘21

Famous musicians are known for their high end and luxurious lifestyle. VIP lounges, private jets, expensive hotel rooms. Many people assume these musicians live a leisurely life whilst basking in such comforts. However, behind closed doors many of them are struggling with serious addiction and mental health issues. Their feelings are often conveyed through their lyrics but many fans (not all) simply sing along rather than showing concern.

This was the year many beloved artists have died such as Mac Miller (overdose), Nipsey Hussle (shot and killed), XXX Tentacion (also shot and killed), and most recently Juice WRLD (seizure due to pills). After every death there is a period when fans and musicians alike warn against the use of heavy drugs and the glorification of a life of violence. But soon after everyone seems to forget and continues to disregard the danger of normalizing heavy drugs and violence in everyday life. Prescription drug use is increasingly normalized in teens today, which can be seen in the rise of opioid deaths throughout the decade. To a certain extent in teen culture, if one has not tried certain drugs they are regarded as boring and can be outcasted by their peers. This attitude is dangerous considering how impressionable young teens are and their desire to fit in with their peers. Many teens strive to relate to the circumstances which some musicians come from. But why would you? A life consisting of addiction, death, and violence is not something to aspire for. It does not make you cooler or more respected, especially if you grew up in a safe and well-off neighborhood.

This is not to say that the music industry is the primary cause of kids rebelling and acting out, because it is not. Musicians themselves emphasize how if they had not made it big they most likely would not still be here today. Many artists also predict their own deaths knowing that their risky lifestyle will catch up to them. Teens misinterpret artists’ songs about drugs and dangerous lifestyles to be about advocacy and praise instead of seeing it as it is; a realization and recognition of their own problems and addictions.

Musicians’ whole lives are put on blast and their struggles of addiction are publicized. While this does show that nobody’s life is perfect, the public has become incredibly desensitized to addiction and drugs. It is not taken as seriously as it should be, and it is seen as admirable to engage in life-threatening behaviors. Slowly killing ourselves should not be something that is normalized, it should be seen as dumb. Following the most recent death of rapper Juice WRLD on December 8, 2019, fellow rapper Vic Mensa called out the hip hop industry and advocated that rappers must take accountability for the message they send to kids in their lyrics. Mensa has struggled with depression and addiction himself, and therefore feels especially passionate about the issue. “You’ve got to be careful about what you say because kids take what you say for real. . . so give them something they can use, not stuff that’s killing them,” said Mensa.