Abstract

This paper discusses how the lyrics of Zimbabwean hip hop music details urban youth socio-economic concerns. It focuses on three major themes that are prominent in this genre; poverty, crime and love. The hip hop genre which originated in America in the 1970s borrows heavily from Jamaican and African musical styles, seen in its rough beats and the rhythmic explicit lyrics. It reached Africa in the mid-1980s and gained prominence in Zimbabwe around 2002, following an introduction of new media laws. A thematic analysis of selected songs by Zimbabwean hip hop artists reveals that this music constitutes a commentary for youth socio-political and economic concerns. Given its influencing power, hip hop music is considered a tool for mobilizing urban youths to act against their socio-economic adversities. It is also established that hip hop artists in Zimbabwe mainly present a pessimistic view of reality. Recommended is a rational interpretation of youth existence, in view of the fact that music can and does influence attitude and behaviour.

Key Words: Hip hop; Music; Youth, Socio-Economic Concerns; Zimbabwe.

Author’s Bio

*Clemenciana Mukenge is a lecturer of Communication Skills in Linguistics Department, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Her research interests are; HIV and AIDS communication, Language and Media, and English as a Second Language.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, October 2019, pp. 75 - 82