As you browse the Eric Clapton selection at the record store, your 11-year-old tugs on your sleeve and presents you with a shiny, new CD: “Hip Hop Jamz!” the cover proclaims in glittering script. “Please?” she implores. How do you know the album is appropriate for her young ears?
Look for the label. The easiest and most reliable way to know that an album has possibly controversial content is to catch a glimpse of the now-iconic “Parental Advisory – Explicit Content” label on the front cover of the CD.
Consider an edited version. Many popular albums come in versions that have been edited for content. Edited, or “clean,” versions should be labeled on the front, back or top spine of the CD.
Do some research. Pass on an immediate purchase and take a few minutes to learn about the artist. Visit the artist’s website and poke around, look up song lyrics on lyrics.com, do a Google search for album reviews. A great resource is commonsensemedia.org, a website that rates and reviews albums of all genres for age-appropriateness and overall quality.
Become familiar with safe bets. Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Run-D.M.C and the Black Eyed Peas all have some albums that land on the safer side of hip-hop. Unfortunately, the most popular hip-hop stars – Eminem, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg – often produce the least kid-friendly CDs.
Sources: The Recording Industry Association of America (riaa.org), Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org)
