As many of us may know, hip hop was born in the South Bronx in the 1970s. The South Bronx was and still is a neighborhood associated with negative comments and thoughts it was known as the “burning” Bronx. Mostly blacks and latinos settled in the Bronx, which where blamed for the high number of crimes and poverty, many people had lost hope. Although in the 1970s the Bronx was one of the main cities that had these issues, there were also some spots in Brooklyn and in Queens that also have had the same struggles. The people had no voice, the media didn't care about the struggles they faced to get by. Hip hop is an art that allowed rappers express themselves it gave a voice to the impoverished people. Artist like Jay-Z from Brooklyn, do an excellent job showing an audience what life is like growing up in a rough area. In his hit “Hard Knock Life” he explains how he was street smart, and sold drugs in order to provide food on the table and live comfortably. 

“Criticism of this so-called culture of dysfunction revolves around the notion that poor urban black people have themselves created and perpetuated a “culture of violence (which includes crime and prison culture), sexual deviance/excess and illiteracy.” Rose, The Hip Hop Wars, (page 61). Hip hop has also contributed to the youth to try to get out of the ghetto and do better. How ever, many of these people especially young black men don't have the resources to grow. Christopher Wallace also known as Biggie, was also another artist from Brooklyn. Most of rap songs were about being out of the hood, and living the life he’s always dreamed and worked hard for. In one of his most famous songs “Juicy” Biggie there’s a verse “Celebrating every day, no more public housing, Thinking back on my one-room shack,Now my mom pimps a Ac with minks on her back”. I am using this song as an example of what many young men found as the “ American Dream” or their way out of the ghetto. I don't want to say that every  young man in the “hood” wants to be a rapper, but often they find them selves tied to making wrong decisions. Such as sell drugs, and street work in order to live  what they think is “comfortably” or true wealth. How ever, we know true wealth isn't flashy.  This trickles down to the people in these poor areas where they rather buy a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes Gucci belt, ted by any means necessary, this is keeps people poor.I don't want to portray hip hop as a negative aspect, because it has been very influential to a diverse crowd.Yet- it is easy for many people to confuse true wealth vs the wealth hip hop. Many get stuck on the illusion on what it means to be rich, not on the moral way of being rich. 

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