Doctors at Britain's world famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who are depressed or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many of the lyrics (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about this. The report is in a special medical magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big difficulties in life. In particular, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor, being unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead to depression and mental illnesses.
The report on hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free. There's often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to own, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of the therapy. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a track called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics that tell people they can be successful even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he would "amount to nothing" but then became a superstar.
1. THERAPY: How can these things help people who are depressed? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.
| Helpful things | Not so helpful |
Hip-hop | | |
Nature | | |
Food | | |
English | | |
Gaming | | |
Community work | | |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. | help | a. | put into words |
2. | depressed | b. | defeating |
3. | lyrics | c. | way |
4. | overcoming | d. | sad |
5. | lead to | e. | selected |
6. | describe | f. | result in |
7. | means | g. | aid |
8. | chose | h. | become |
9. | track | i. | words |
10. | amount to | j. | song |
Role A – Hip-hop You think hip-hop is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, jazz or punk rock. |
Role B – Opera You think opera is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): hip-hop, jazz or punk rock. |
Role C – Jazz You think jazz is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, hip-hop or punk rock. |
Role D – Punk rock You think punk rock is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, jazz or hip-hop.
Role E - Classical Music |
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1) | What did you think when you read the headline? |
2) | What springs to mind when you hear the word 'hip-hop'? |
3) | How does hip-hop make you feel? |
4) | What different kinds of hip-hop are there? |
5) | Do you understand why some people don't like hip-hop? |
6) | Is hip-hop modern-day poetry? |
7) | What do you know about how hip-hop first started? |
8) | Is American hip-hop better than hip-hop from other countries? |
9) | Do you think 'hip-hop therapy' is a good idea? |
10) | How can hip-hop help people with mental illnesses? |
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STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
11) | Did you like reading this article? Why/not? |
12) | Is hip-hop music, or is it a different kind of art? |
13) | How has hip-hop changed culture? |
14) | What are the good and bad things about hip-hop? |
15) | What do you think of the names of hip-hop artists? |
16) | What music do you think would be the best therapy? |
17) | What songs would you use as therapy? |
18) | What do you think you will amount to in life? |
19) | Should all hip-hop give a message of hope? |
20) | What questions would you like to ask one of the doctors? |
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