It’s no secret that today, children are more exposed to the world than before. With the presence of social media and the array of vulgar content, it can be difficult for parents to shield their kids from graphic lyrics and music, and because of that, artists like Sexxy Red are increasingly popular among younger kids. And while I also like to “get it sexy,” it’s important to recognize that a young person, who doesn’t quite know what that means, should not be listening to it. This exposure can lead to a mixed understanding of issues surrounding sexuality and relationships because they can’t yet fully grasp the impact that explicit themes could have on their mind.
For many kids, the message of these songs means nothing to them. It’s just a record with a good beat and catchy lyrics, but these tracks can lead to true danger. According to lmtmusicacademy, exposure to aggressive or sexually explicit music can desensitize kids, which can lead to risky behavior like substance abuse or aggression. It is crucial to be aware of what children are listening to and how it shapes them.
Young kids listening to vulgar music isn’t new though. Since before I was born, kids have been singing songs like “Work It” by Missy Elliot, a song famous for its fun beats and catchy lyrics. But it’s also explicit, similar to Sexxy Red’s discography. And though Red’s songs are notably more vulgar, it still begs the question of whether or not children should be listening to songs like that.
Adolescents deserve to live their lives without the stress of the world, but instead most kids these days spend their time on social media, listening to music they have no business listening to. The explicitness in this music is forcing kids to grow up faster. Instead of learning the rules to freeze tag, they are now learning what it means when a rapper says that they did “half a xan.” Language like this is the thing that makes certain music dangerous for kids because children might think that because Drake said it was cool to do drugs, they should do them.
Ultimately, it falls on the parents to do better at protecting children from situations they should not yet be exposed to. Open communication about what these songs are about and setting boundaries about what is and is not allowed is crucial if the youth are introduced to explicit songs early on. This proactive approach will minimize the damage that musicians can do because kids will be able to formulate the difference between having fun singing along to a song and real life. Additionally, this tactic can be used widely over the course of a child’s life to help them navigate the media they consume, relationships, and more, rather than the younger generations turning to Sexxy Red for relationship advice.
