Does music influence people to commit crimes?

An Oakland teenager sees a strong connection between the lyrics of popular rappers and the behavior of his peers.  Drugs, robbing, and violence are held up as enjoyable pastimes, but he knows that dealing and theft become jobs for the people he sees in his neighborhood.  Some rappers' also support a materialist consumer culture, with lyrics that glorify expensive cars and clothes.  "I personally see the connection between the music that is being promoted on my TV screen with the crimes I see in my neighborhood... [And] most of my friends don’t have jobs, but they wear what the superstars wear, like $250 pair of jeans, $300 belt and $200 pair of shoes."  The perspective on rap music's influence on behavior is on Youth Radio.chief_keef_and_his_gun_and_phone_0

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