For those here who are parents or are planning to be sometime, I have a serious question.

Would you allow your young child to listen to Rap or Hip Hop musics?

With the frequent lyrics about violence,drugs and sex in most modern rap, I would have to forbid it until they were mature enough to handle it.

What is your take on this?

I am a Grandmother, and most of what my children have heard, they heard it before I did. I now have grand babies that are in their early 20's and late teens, and have still heard more than I have. I think you need to take into account what the song is about before you decide its something that a certain aged child or teen can listen to. What does it talk about, is it all positive or negative? Things like that make a world of difference to a parent considering the thought of their children hearing curse words.

I don't have any, however if I did I think my answer would be based on the kids maturity level along with their age for starters. Who in their right mind would let a child under then age of 10 listen to anything that graphic?

I agree that it does matter on the context the lyrics are said in.

One rapper may just curse and talk about violence as fun, and there could be a different rapper who is completely opposite from that.

You should do research, and also think about how your kids may react to it. Are they ready for it, or do they have to be older to understand the full extent of what's being said.

Its really hard to keep these things with the children of this age. I mean they could just copy any rap music or listen to a radio station from their cellphones or Ipods.

What I suggest is that we guide them to what is appropriate music and not just forbid them to listen to inadequate music with bad messages in the lyrics. It's like guiding them when watching violent movies. We don't have to shut their eyes about the reality of the world, we just have to guide them what is the best choice.

Doesn't music on radio and T.V usually bleep out offensive language? Sure they may be able to piece together on their own what is being said, but not always.

Anyway, I agree that guidance is a very important part of it all.

There are many artists I listen to who may have some objectionable lyrics, some of which I even listened to since I was a child. But I knew what was right and wrong, even way back then.

To answer the question of the thread, yes I would permit the listening of rap or hip-hop to my child (someday) if I have heard it first. It just like screening but not really taking the freedom to listen to it. If the message is clean then I would let them listen to it.

Its like feeding food to your family. Each of the member of the family wanted different kinds of food but you will never let your child eat a garbage or a poison. This is the same with listening to music. We know that the message of music affects us especially if we listen to it regularly.

It'd depend on the age of the kids. I would rather them not listen to offensive phrases if they are younger than 7-8.Thereafter, they start making their own choices. these days, it's hard to keep them away from all that with the exposure they get from tv and internet . It's important to teach them not to follow everything they hear. Exposing them to good songs is also a nice way of helping them develop a good taste.

My kid is very young, and no, there is no way that I would let her. The only thing that she gets to listen to honestly is kid's music. Not because I won't let her hear my music, which at home is mostly gentle and suitable, but because she has a fit if I put my music on!

I think my future kid can if and when the music is tastefully written, I mean no parent will allow her child be exposed to explicit lyrics 24/7! And in case, this is inevitable, well I must tell him or her to wait 'til he/she is old enough to fully comprehend the lyrics. :)

I think once kids are a certain age they should be able to make their own choices with guidance. Kids can listen to swearing and know its wrong and not do it themselves. I'de definitely say that PG-13 is a pretty good guide, middle school/high school is when kids need to start being given more leeway, but still guidance. If your child wants to listen to explicit lyrics talk about why swearing isn't good and why demeaning women and doing drugs is bad as is promiscious behavior.

The majority of the hip hop song that I have listened portrays a rebellion on something, like parents or the government. Most of the messages say that "they are free what they want to do might it be drugs, guns, and/or even sex."

Because of that reason, I would never let my kid (in the future) listen to it.

My hubby and I are music lovers. We do listen to music that has explicit lyrics. But then we never put all these things in mind. We only love the tunes. Our music is my kids’ music too. We are more into alternative songs. My kids used to jump and scream when the love the song but we always see to it that they are not violent enough when listening to their favorite songs. Guidance is important.

Depends on who the rapper is and what they really stand for.

Many rappers seem to be just in it for the money, without caring about social awareness or what impression his/her music leaves on the kids who happen to hear it.

It depends on the maturity of the child, and the lyrics of the music. However it will be hard to limit or enforce these rules because if a child really wants to listen and watch anything, they will find the ways and means to do it. So perhaps explaining and getting feedback from them is the way to go.