Editor’s note: This article contains explicit material.
Tune into any hip-hop radio station and songs from artists like Chris Brown, 2 Chainz and K Camp blasts through the speakers. These artist have made songs like “Cut Her Off,” “Main Chick,” and “Loyal” popular to a point where it is suspected that these lyrics can begin to affect the romantic relationships one decides to have with another person.
Many of these songs speak heavily on maintaining multiple relationships instead of encouraging monogamy. In Chris Brown’s song “Loyal,” which speaks about women who will cheat on their partner once someone with more financial stability comes along, rapper Lil Wayne mentions in the opening verse “I wasn’t born last night, I know these h*** ain’t right,” and Chris Brown continues in the chorus with “When a rich n**** wants you, and your n**** can’t do nothing for ya. These h*** ain’t loyal.”
According to the Pew Research Social and Demographics Trend, just 26 percent of millennials, age 18-32 are married. The median age for married individuals is at an all-time high, 29 for men and 27 for women.
Arlinda Lindsay, therapist and owner of Agape Empowerment Counseling Services, LLC said the underlining cause may be linked to the surrounding environment in which one was brought up.
“Our parents are the first exposure to what a relationship is and if a young person witnessed their parent in a relationship with multiple people, they may believe it’s OK and it could be reinforced into the music,” said Lindsay.
She adds that music lyrics may cause one-night stands and the contentment of causal dating. Lindsay sees young couples often during therapy sessions, and finds most have a hard time understanding one another and communicating. She said it might be hard for a couple to work through their issues if this sort of music is interfering. However, there is hope.
“If they come to an awareness and seek things that are positive, foster healthy relationships and make the decision to not accept that type of lifestyle or listen to a certain type of music, the relationship can improve,” said Lindsay.
On the Billboard Hot R&B and Hip-Hop chart, John Legend’s “All of Me” graces the No. 2 spot on the chart, however it is arguably the only song out of the top 18 songs that speaks about romantic love in a positive way without sexual references.
Associate Producer at CBS Radio, Samuel Sirmons said ‘90s rap catered more toward females and reflected them in a more positive light.
“Now, you have one of the most popular songs, ‘Loyal’ where one of the catchphrases in the urban community is “These h*** ain’t loyal” and another successful song from Rico Love says ‘B*****s Be Like’ followed by several generalizations,” said Sirmons, who has been a producer for the past couple of years.
He adds, “There isn’t much catering to ‘love’ anymore. The love song may be how (artists) get popular initially, but they certainly haven’t stayed on the course. It’s about what sells.”
Today, more rap artists are going public with their romantic relationships such as Kanye West, Jay-Z and T.I. but many others continue to incorporate lyrics that convey an opposite meaning. In a past interview, rapper Joe Budden said he anticipates the day when artists aren’t forced to create music based on stereotypes of hip-hop. He wants to see lyrics based on real life matters.
“Hip-hop has a lot of immature stereotypes and stigmas,” said Budden.
For others, it’s not so much the music but simply the lifestyle artists choose to live. James Scott, also known as DJ Cold Hustle, works many events and stays in the loop of the music world. He believes it is the money, fame and glam people are tied to, and promoting multiple relationships happens to fall into the category.
“They think if I can have money and fame and multiple partners that puts them in the situation of why being tied down to one person,” said the DJ.
He said hip-hop music doesn’t convey the message of love as often as R&B music, but on today’s playlist, the smooth rhythm and blues doesn’t match up to the high-energy hip-hop industry.
“If you go back to the ‘90s you had SWV, Dru Hill, Joe, TLC and others who spoke about love, heartbreak and other things they were going through,” the DJ said. “Today you might get a Chrisette Michele or a Tamar Braxton who are popular in the industry but their one album or single on the radio doesn’t compare to the multiple hip-hop songs in rotation.”
