References to mental health struggles, including suicide and depression, have increased significantly in popular rap music over the last 20 years, according to US research. Researchers analysed lyric sheets from the 25 most popular rap songs in the US in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018, to look at 125 songs in total, and found the proportion of songs referencing suicide, depression and mental health metaphors all increased over this period. The researchers say the 2008 release of rap album 808s & Heartbreaks by Kanye West is a notable event that might explain the increase, with rappers such as Drake, Post Malone, and JuiceWrld acknowledging the album as being influential to their musical style. The authors say more research is needed to determine the potential positive and negative influences these increasingly prevalent mental health references may have in shaping youth mental health.
Journal/conference: JAMA Pediatrics
Research: Paper
Organisation/s: University of North Carolina, USA
Media release
From: JAMA
Mental Health Themes in Popular Rap Music
JAMA Pediatrics
Original Investigation
A Content Analysis of Mental Health Discourse in Popular Rap Music
What The Study Did: Lyrics from the most popular rap songs from the past two decades were analyzed to see if references to anxiety, depression, suicide and mental health struggles have become more common.
Authors: Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the corresponding author.
(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5155)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
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