Dangerous Messaging in Modern Rap

I had noticed the version of this song feat. Da Baby had stopped being played and was honestly glad. I didn't know about his comments regarding HIV/AIDS which seemed extremely hypocritical to me considering he includes lines about being "Heavily Medicated" in the song and drug use certainly can play a role in dangerous transmittable diseases. I found the glorification of drug use to be highly insensitive given the opioid epidemic the nation is facing. The comments he made at this festival are even more obviously offensive. That being said, I also feel that the point made about Lil Nas X is extremely valid. I saw a clip of one of his videos online and couldn't believe my eyes. A real life "artist" seeming to be from an episode of the Boondocks come to life for sure. In the episode, Riley begins wearing crop tops and carrying a purse, it is only after its "too late" that he realizes the rapper he was imitating was not at all in line with who he felt he was. So what does this have to do with the situation? Well, these are just 2 rappers. How many more are out there being either idolized or demonized for putting out messages which are all equally harmful not only to victims of a drug crisis, disease, or other marginalized situation but are dangerous to kids who are increasingly influenced by what they are seeing online? How many kids are following these harmful messages and changing very radically to fit the trend, not knowing that in a few years they may end up like Riley did or worse? You can take a skirt off. You can let your hair go back to how it was. But you can't easily take back a drug addiction. It is impossible to reverse HIV/AIDS. And your body may not be able to go back after it is altered in any way. Be it for gender identity or to look like your favorite insta model. If you are hurt by Da Baby's statements, which I also found to be awful, please take a moment to also look at the greater picture because unfortunately, this is just a symptom of a much larger issue we are facing where the victims don't even realize they are victims yet.

Does anyone else see how, in the very adult fight for inclusivity, we may be negatively impacting younger generation by including the wrong messaging alongside real problems? Let me know in the comments below... oh wait, I'm not a you tuber... Thanks for reading!