Art Voicing Peaceful Protest: Hip-Hop and Rap in the American and Arabic Cultures

Abstract

For centuries, poems and songs have been utilized to criticize oppressive and violent regimes, eliciting emotions and aiding the public in coping with hegemony. Rap and hip-hop, blending poetry and music, have emerged as powerful tools for combating oppression and marginalization. Despite the misconception that loud, aggressive music may incite violence, recent research disproves this notion. This study employs Sigmund and Anna Freud's psychoanalytic theory, focusing on defense mechanisms and free association, to analyze data. The study reveals that poets and artists across cultures, including Arabic culture, have employed rap and hip-hop as a means of cultural resistance, fostering a collective identity among young individuals to enhance their understanding of themselves and their culture. The study argues that rap and hip-hop serve as peaceful tools of resistance and function as a therapeutic outlet for managing anger, contrary to claims by some critical theorists that they stimulate violence in society.