BECAUSE RAP LYRICS tend to have more words than an average pop song, artists have a venue to tell complex stories and send complete messages. While the messages of many songs are positive, artists have been criticized for presenting messages that some people believed were negative and even dangerous.

Sexism was one such prejudicial message that concerned some, but it was by no means the only one. Throughout rap's history, specific artists have been charged with endorsing anti-Semitism, homophobia, racism, or antiwhite sentiments in their lyrics. As rap's popularity grew by leaps and bounds from the late eighties to the present, some songs had lyrics that were thought to encourage prejudice, which was especially troublesome given rap's ever-expanding audience. As a result, critics challenged their lyrics. Criticisms, which were typically presented in the press, at times put pressure on artists forcing them to change their ways...