In the past decade there has been an increase in the amount rappers hitting the scene and with that comes an increase of deaths. New/up-and-coming rappers have been dying at an alarming rate over the past decade majority being under the age of 30, because of substance abuse and violence.
Many rappers have died as a result of substance abuse, with a great deal of them suffering from mental health issues. In addition to drug overdose, countless young hip-hop artist have died from gun violence.
Some would argue that these untimely deaths are due to the current state of rap music and the culture surrounding it. Numerous rappers who have been victims to gun violence and drug abuse were apart of gangs, and their music reflected that.
Since 2010, approximately 51.5 percent of American rapper deaths were due to gun violence, which makes hip-hop the highest genre of music with homicide related deaths. Many from older generations and outside the hip-hop genre feel that violent gang related activity and drugs are glorified in a great deal of the genre’s music. Others argue its free speech and just a form of artistic expression, this debate has been going on since the genre’s origin.
