Urban music, which originated in marginalized communities in The Caribbean and the USA, has found a global audience, resonating especially with young people, as is often the case with emerging music genres. Urban music has evolved into more than just a genre of entertainment, it has become a significant cultural force that shapes the identities, behaviour, and educational experiences of young people.
A study in the International Journal of Knowledge and Learning has examined the impact of urban music on secondary school students in Peru. The work sheds new light on its multifaceted role in adolescent life, which may well have wider implications. The findings suggest that urban music, encompassing styles such as hip-hop and reggaetón can serve as a platform for cultural expression and social belonging, influencing students in ways that are deeply linked to their socio-economic environments.
Agustin Angel Roberto Chumpitaz-Avila and Luis Fernando Castro-Llacsa of the National University of San Agustín of Arequipa in Arequipa, Peru, highlight how this musical genre has penetrated schools across Peru, including state, private, and religious institutions. This reflects the wide-reaching influence of urban music. While critics have long asserted that urban music might somehow promote antisocial behaviour, the research suggests that its influence on youth is not so easily categorized and indeed can have a strong positive influence.
Urban music does commonly have explicit lyrics that often feature violence, overtly sexual imagery, and drug use. Those social observers who malign it for these characteristics suggest that young listeners may internalize these messages. However, the current study found that while some students might adopt attitudes reflected in the music, the broader socio-economic and familial context plays a more significant role in determining their behaviour. Urban music, it seems, is a tool for young people to interpret their surroundings rather than an inherently harmful influence.
Chumpitaz-Avila, A.A.R. and Castro-Llacsa, L.F. (2025) ‘Comparative analysis of the impact of urban music on students of state, private and parochial educational institutions’, Int. J. Knowledge and Learning, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.170–185.