To Kutnupe14,
I don't know about rap music, but country music has been linked to a higher suicide rate.
Link: http://comp.uark.edu/~ches/CountryMusic_Suicide.pdf
Within this study it also notes that country music has been linked to "increased levels of consumption of alcohol (Schaefer 1988)."
It would appear that for some people listening to a certain type music over and over again can have some impact on how they think and/or behave.
However, I haven't seen any evidence as to whether the 18 year old who was shot listened to any type of music, or that he was not attending school, or that he did not have a job. Therefore, I cannot draw any conclusions on his act of stupidity based upon nonexistent evidence.
Regards and Happy Holidays,
Doug
Well, as is my M.O., when something irks me, I challenge it. Someone implied earlier up thread, that rap music is partially at root to violence. Noting that we have no idea what many of these criminals listen too, I am left to believe that appearance is what inspired such an ignorant comment. I don't believe music has any pervasive hand in people's actions. If it did, then it only reasons that television, video games, movies, books, and billboard signs do as well.
And Happy Holidays to you as well.