Raphael Marrillia

In today’s world a group of people that are looked up to the most are musicians. Some might be better role models than others. Nevertheless many younger people look up to most notorious musicians, rappers. People might think all rappers are horrible role models. In some of the cases these people are correct. Rappers are known for talking with profanity and only rapping about money, drugs and girls. 

However, I think a lot of rappers are great models. Instead of only listening to mainstream rap, people have to dig deeper into the genre of rap. People have to listen to the lyrics of the songs, as well as learn about the persons lifestyle before they were famous. Many rappers have came from tough upbringings and have literally come from nothing. People have to understand that rappers talk about drugs and money because thats what they grew up in. That is the world they were brought up in, so that's what they are going to rap about.

For example the well known rapper Eminem. Eminem otherwise known as Marshall Mathers is one of the most known rappers ever.  He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was raised by his drug addicted single mother, after his father abandoned the family when he was still a baby. He moved between Missouri and Detroit because of his mom couldn't hold a job for more than a couple months. He was bullied at the schools he went to and never had any close friends. When he was a teenager he attended Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan. However, he dropped out after failing the ninth grade three times. He began to compete in the underground rap scene in Detroit. Being the only white person that participated in the these rap battles, he was criticized at first. Nevertheless, Eminem gained more and more skill each time and eventually becoming one of the most respected rappers in Detroit.

Eminem is a good role model because he shows kids that if you put your mind and effort to something you can achieve it. He always shows good work ethic. He was so dedicated to rap and making something of himself, he would read the dictionary. Many people say that Eminem is just an arrogant and vulgar guy. However, in most of his raps he talks about life problems and what he's had to go through. All of his songs are to do with something going on in his life. Like his album "Relapse." The songs in this album have some of the most twisted lyrics I have ever heard. Nevertheless, this was a time in his life that he was on drugs and didn't know where to turn in life. Another example is his "Recovery," album. This album talks about the things he was going through and how he's better now. The point is Eminem, as well as other rappers aren't just talking about vulgar things. They talk about what they are going through in life and their surrounding world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XAoWDChiUw

Another example of a rapper that came from nothing is Jay-Z or Shawn Corey Carter. He was born Brooklyn, New York. His father also left his family at the age of 11. His single mother raised him and his other three brothers and sisters in the drug infested Marcy Project’s in Brooklyn. Throughout his whole childhood he dealt with gun violence and drugs. He attended Eli Whitney High school in Brooklyn. One of his classmates was also a soon to be legend of rap, the Notorious B.I.G. During his childhood Jay-Z turned to rap to try to get away from the drugs and violence that was so common in his life. He eventually started his own record label with two of his friends called Rock-A-Fella Records. He became a rising star when he released his first album called “Reasonable Doubt,” which made 23rd on the top 100 list.

Jay-Z is now one of the most known rapper in the world. He's a good role model to children because he never gave up. He was raised by a single mother and in one of the worst parts of New York. He could have gave up and just became another gangster that sells drugs and kills people. However, he wanted to make something of himself, so he worked on it. He made something of himself because he worked hard at it. That's why he's a good role model

These two rappers, as well as many others are great role models. They show kids that even the worst situations can turn out well. They show good work ethic as well as courage to be different. I think that is why they are such good role models. They give kids hope, because some kids might not have a good mother or father so they turn to music. Rappers give kids something to relate to and someone to look up too. As you can see here that isn't the worst thing, because rappers are good role models.