This article examines adolescents' attitudes toward rap music, specifically racial differences in Black and White adolescents' perceptions of rap. Rap critics have long touted the allegedly deleterious effects of rap, but few researchers have asked fans themselves how rap has affected them. This study uses a survey of 51 adolescents in a Midwestern city to examine racial differences in preferences for and interpretations of rap music. Survey results indicate that racial differences in the popularity of rap music are limited. However, further questions reveal that African American youth are more committed to rap music and are more likely to see rap music as life affirming. Although both groups appear to have favorable opinions of rap, their commitment to it and its significance in their lives varies by race.
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