Gun violence in the music industry, specifically the rap and hip-hop community is something that is normalized, and artists constantly have to worry about their safety. In a blink of an eye their life can be taken away from them. Many are dying at such a young age, and two rappers have been shot the past two months.
This has been an ongoing problem in the United States, and so many rappers have lost their lives at such a young age. They should be able to go out into the world without thinking they’re going to die at any moment.
In the U.S. alone, there are more than 393 million guns and according to Pew Research Center, as of 2020, 45,222 people have died from gun-related injuries in the US. Each day about 53 people are killed by a firearm in the US.
Brittney Glor, junior majoring in biochemistry stated, “After seeing so many lives of popular rap artists be lost to gun violence it is clear that there needs to be change in this country.” Glor described that many rap artists have lost lives due to gun violence demonstrating there needs to be change by having stricter regulations about who can own firearms. “Seeing that both of these rappers were also African American is so heartbreaking and shows that there is so much hate in this country and that we are so so far behind from where we need to be,” Glor stated.
Takeoff, a rapper part of the trio known as Migos, was shot in Houston at 810 Billiards and Bowling alley where a private party was being held. An argument escalated and the next sound people heard were gunshots fired from at least two weapons.
The Harris County medical examiner determined that Takeoff died from, “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.” There were about 40 people at the scene but many left, possibly out of panic, and no one wanted to stick around to give a statement. Takeoff was a well-respected man in Houston so there was no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal at the time.
Makeda Racines, a sophomore majoring in computer science stated, “I think that gun violence in the rap/hip-hop community is very normalized when it really shouldn’t be. It makes me sad to think about how these talented artists got their lives and careers cut short for no reason.”
Rapper PNB Rock was shot on Sept. 12, at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles while having lunch with his girlfriend. The Los Angeles Police Department thinks that the shooter arrived shortly after PNB Rock’s girlfriend posted their meal, along with the location of where they were at, while they were wearing expensive jewelry and other valuables. The shooter fled the scene after taking PNB’s jewelry off leaving him on the floor drenched in his own blood.
How many lives have to be taken until action is done? Most people who possess guns want it for protection but it does more harm than good. Gun violence is a leading cause of premature death in the US and there are many mass shootings that occur whether it be at restaurants, bars, schools or movie theaters. It is difficult for people to feel comfortable anywhere they go because it’s not safe anywhere.
At times, the rap/hip-hop community gets a bad reputation and artists around the country need to be cautious and increase security presence. There are many talented individuals in the industry that people love and respect, impacting lives everyday. Society tends to forget that celebrities are normal human beings too with lives and family to come home to.
