Citation

Herd D. Subst. Use Misuse 2014; 49(3): 333-342.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, University of California , Berkeley, California , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/10826084.2013.840003

PMID

24093523

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence and context of alcohol references in rap music lyrics from 1979 through 2009. Four hundred nine top-ranked rap music songs released were sampled from Billboard magazine rating charts. Songs were analyzed using systematic content analysis and were coded for alcohol beverage types and brand names, drinking behaviors, drinking contexts, attitudes towards alcohol, and consequences of drinking. Trends were analyzed using regression analyses. The results of the study reveal significant increases in the presence of alcohol in rap songs; a decline in negative attitudes towards alcohol; decreases in consequences attributed to alcohol; increases in the association of alcohol with glamour and wealth, drugs, and nightclubs; and increases in references to liquor and champagne.

Language: en