If I say music, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Now of course, I’m not saying in the middle of a conversation or loudly and obnoxiously. Let’s say I’m a professor and in the beginning of my lecture I simply say ‘music.’ No elaboration or explanation. The first thought you get could be a sound or song. Maybe a picture of a music note or a part of a music video. Maybe a line from a song or an artist saying something.

Music impact on people is clearly visible in our society. Just take a look around. People are wanna-be’s of the best artist or just what they talk about. People say, if you want to make an impact on the world, become an activist, politician, lawyer. I say the biggest philosophers are music artist or actors simply because, everyone wants to be like them. Even in today’s society with increasing beliefs in individualism. I look around at today’s impressionable, molding minds and see look-alikes. In clothing, conversation, and lifestyle. It’s as if they are mind-controlled servants to the all mighty ‘Mac Miller’ or ‘Rihanna’ or ‘A Day To Remember’ or ‘Memphis May Fire’.

These people live their lives either to their lyrics or hypocritically. They tell the listeners to “worship material possessions, to disrespect women, to stay high on drugs and alcohol all day, to engage in massive amounts of sexual promiscuity and to celebrate killing one  another.” says thyblackman.com.

 If you’re a parent and you raise your children a certain way, but then the music and friends points them in a different direction, how is your job as a parent worthwhile? Think about; parent says don’t do drugs and alcohol, music artist says do. Parent says be respectful to all people, music artist has them disrespecting not only women and adults, but you. You tell them to be careful, find a good girl/guy, music artist tells them to have sex with a bunch of people. It’s clear to me who holds the upper hand in the influence department in the minds of many adolescence and young adults.

If words and attire or actions isn’t enough, people’s emotions are like clay in the artists’ hands, to be molded however they please. “My suggestion: Forget "sophistication." Forget "depth." Screw "individuality." Let's all just party, dammit, and let's do it together. Here's my perpetual upper tune: Supergrass' "Alright," which I'm pretty sure is in a major chord and played at a speedy clip. So, feel alright... (Note all the band members are wearing matching t-shirts--how's that for "individuality"?)” says fuse.tv.

Music can affect mood, which I go in depth on in my other English credit. To make a scene you play a certain music or an instrument a certain way or so on. It’s the same way applied to our lives, now we can make our alarm clocks a song, creating a mood already from the moment we open our eyes for the day.

I know when I had my iPhone, my headphones were in my ears all day, literally. Music affected really every moment of my day, almost as if I had theme music for everything I did. In moments when I wanted to get things done like in work, I’d tune into an upbeat, faster pace song. When I would lay down or just relax, slower pace songs would help.

In that sense, music artists’ know exactly how they want the consumers to feel with the actual music, not just the lyrics. They sway your mood with faster, more intense music. So now they have control.

It also drives me insane because they music artists are very hypocritical and the fans minds are still set to follow they’re music. “The music industry and especially hip-hop can be a bit exaggerated at times, possibly even fake. People pretend to be something they’re not and back ideas that they don’t really believe in just to sell a few records and make a few fair-weather fans..” says sojones.com.

How do you feel seeing someone like Meek Mill, 50 Cent, or Asking Alexandria lead singer Danny Worsnop sending donations to education or homeless or starving children but making music about things opposite of humanitarian ideas like doing or selling drugs, multiple sex partners, gun violence, blaspheming religions, and suicide? It seems very hypocritical to me, like they donate to shut people up or they portray these violent and dark ideas but don’t live it. I think ‘exaggerated’ is the perfect term for the music industry, from both sides. What happened to music? I know when I look up classics like original hip hop, it was the opposite of portray hateful ideals and if they were it was to show how wrong they are.

I want real music. Give me that. No hidden agenda, crude and disgusting lyrics, no way to misunderstand the lyrics, just music. Music that moves, or makes you happy, that raises you from struggles, that empowers you, or make you simply enjoy life.

I listen to a lot of music. Big fan of old school rock and hip hop, even some country and punk. I’m mostly a big fan of Christian rap and rock. “A typical line in a Lecrae verse, from “Fuego,” off the Gravity album: “Feed the hungry and touch the sick. We gon’ help the homeless and love the kids.” says entertainment.time.com. The music I’ve been talking about is right here, but why doesn’t everyone listen to it? Is it because the idea of “Christian music” is drench with religious ideas or prideful, judgemental people? I think so. Since following Christ isn’t a religion, it’s a lifestyle, I believe this is false. The music I listen to is hip hop or rock, and many other forms of music that portrays christian ideals. Good ideals. Ideals that we should all have morals based on the same, Not talking about money or sex or killing one another. Why is that such a ridiculous reality? People want the bad all the time, but dealing with the consequences they don’t want, then they want the good. If people truly understand why music needs to have good ideals, People won’t be easily influenced. Maybe one day this won’t be an issue, maybe it will. All I know is saying nothing doesn’t help.