Rap e identidade social: um estudo de caso

Abstract

This work aims at investigating the expression of social identity of Brasília suburban youths by means of Rap music. Rap rhythm and poetry is a musical style which is part of the Hip-Hop movement. It is a cultural tendency that brings about a social view of the world in the suburban areas of Brazilian big cities. It is made up of four elements: Break Dance, Graffiti, MC and Rap. This piece of research constitutes a case study that focus on a young Rapper who lives at the city of Ceilândia DF. The research participant was interviewed at length and subtly observed. Based on the analysis of the Rapper discourse and of the text of one of his songs, it was explored the system of values that supports the building up of an unique social process and identify how they see the world through their musical pictures. The theoretical background that oriented this investigation included social identity theory, which was supported by social representations theory. Results suggest that Rap music, besides being a vehicle for putting forward suburban youngsters claims, is also a protecting veil which can create ways for achieving a more qualified social life, even considering the violence and criminality that surround them