Popularizing the research
Public Opinion: The Secret to Celebrity Success?
When Kanye West wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt or Taylor Swift’s private jet emissions hit the headlines, public reaction was swift and often fierce.
These incidents make me wonder: how much does public sentiment impact an artist’s career? Do they bounce back unscathed, or is there a lasting effect on their popularity and success? Let’s find out!
Hip-hop has grown beyond a musical genre; it’s a powerful cultural force
Fashion Swagger
Hip-hop has revolutionized the fashion industry, shifting trends and altering perceptions. What began as streetwear — oversized T-shirts, tracksuits, and flashy bling — has infiltrated high-end fashion. Brands like Rocawear and Sean John, created by hip-hop legends Jay-Z and Sean Combs, now share the spotlight with giants like Polo and Tommy Hilfiger. This crossover highlights hip-hop’s ability to blend casual styles with couture, reshaping fashion norms and introducing new aesthetics to the mainstream (Cornell Chronicle).
Hip-hop’s influence on fashion doesn’t stop at clothing. It also impacts hairstyles, accessories, and even makeup. The bold, expressive styles seen in hip-hop videos often set trends that ripple through the fashion world. For instance, the resurgence of bucket hats and chunky gold jewelry can be traced back to hip-hop’s iconic looks. These trends show how hip-hop continually reinvents itself and influences global fashion (Cornell Chronicle).
Lingo Legends
Hip-hop has also redefined language and communication. The genre’s slang and phrases have infiltrated the everyday vocabulary, influencing how we speak and express ourselves. Words like “lit,” “fam,” and “squad” are now commonplace. This linguistic influence extends beyond casual speech, impacting other music genres and media, and demonstrating hip-hop’s pervasive cultural reach (Georgia Tech News).
The language of hip-hop is more than just slang, it’s a form of storytelling. Through their lyrics, hip-hop artists bring attention to social issues, personal struggles, and triumphs. This powerful narrative style not only enriched the genre itself but also inspired other forms of artistic expression, including poetry, spoken word, and even mainstream pop music. Hip-hop’s ability to capture and communicate complex emotions and experiences makes it a vital part of contemporary culture (Georgia Tech News).
Social Justice Beats
Hip-hop isn’t just about music; it’s a powerful tool for social change. From its early days, the genre has given a voice to the marginalized, addressing social and economic inequalities. Artists like Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy used their music to highlight societal issues and inspire activism. Today, artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B continue this tradition, tackling topics like racial injustice, gender inequality, and police brutality through their lyrics (Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion) (Georgia Tech News).
Projects like “Your Voice is Power” exemplify hip-hop’s role in education and social justice. This initiative teaches coding and entrepreneurship through hip-hop, emphasizing racial equity and inspiring a new generation to engage with social issues creatively
The Beat Behind the Research
From its roots in the streets to dominating streaming platforms, hip-hop influences fashion, language, and even social movements. But with this power comes scrutiny. In today’s digital age, what people say online can make or break an artist’s career.
Social media platforms and newspapers are buzzing with opinions about artists’ latest moves, lyrics, and personal lives. But how does this public sentiment translate into tangible outcomes for these artists? Does a positive sentiment boost their streaming numbers, or do negative comments lead to a decline?
In today’s digital age, hip-hop artists are constantly in the public eye, with their every move scrutinized on social media. Public sentiment, whether positive or negative, can significantly impact an artist’s career. A tweet or a viral video can boost an artist’s streaming numbers or lead to a public backlash. This constant exposure highlights the genre’s powerful connection with its audience and its ability to influence public opinion.
This study dives into the heart of this question. I explored how public sentiment, expressed through social media and news media, impacts hip-hop artists’ performance on streaming services. By analyzing the sentiments surrounding six famous hip-hop artists over the past five years, the aim was to uncover patterns and correlations between what people say and how an artist’s music is received.
To tackle this complex question, two advanced sentiment analysis models were employed: BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) and VADER (Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner). These models helped to assess the sentiments expressed about the artists in both social media and news media.
Sentiments were quantified as Sentiment Average Proportion (SAP) for news media and Average Compound Score (ASC) for social media. Additionally, we analyzed playlist metrics, such as the number of distinct Spotify playlists featuring the artists’ music and the reach of these playlists.
Hip-Hop Icons Analyzed
Kanye West: The Maverick
Kanye West is as famous for his music as he is for his outspoken and often controversial opinions.
Doja Cat: The Internet Sensation
Doja Cat has leveraged social media to catapult her career, blending genres and creating viral hits.
Drake: The Hitmaker
Despite some criticism, Drake’s fanbase continues to grow, demonstrating his resilience and appeal.
Nicki Minaj: The Queen of Rap
Nicki Minaj has cemented her place in hip-hop history with her distinctive style and lyrical prowess.
Cardi B: The Unapologetic Star
Cardi B's rise to fame has been meteoric, characterized by her candid personality and bold music.
Travis Scott: The Rager
Travis Scott, known for his high-energy performances and unique sound, often finds himself in the spotlight.
Dropping the Mic: Findings
News media
From July 2019 to March 2024, Doja Cat had the highest proportion of positive mentions, with a normally distributed sentiment. Cardi B's wide sentiment range suggests polarized opinions, while Nicki Minaj's sentiment is slightly more positive. Kanye West had the lowest positive sentiment. Drake and Travis Scott had notable outliers, indicating occasional extreme sentiments. In conclusion, Doja Cat is viewed most positively, Kanye West most negatively, and Cardi B has the most polarized opinions.
Social media
On Reddit, from July 2019 to March 2024, sentiments were generally similar across celebrities. Doja Cat had the highest median sentiment with little variation. Cardi B had the lowest and most polarized sentiment. Kanye West and Nicki Minaj showed higher negative sentiment ratios. Drake's sentiment was mostly positive but had a significant negative outlier. Thus, Doja Cat is positively viewed, Cardi B's sentiment is highly polarized, and Drake has both positive and negative extreme sentiments.
The analysis revealed significant differences in sentiment scores among the artists. For male artists like Travis Scott, Drake, and Kanye West, there was a negative correlation between positive sentiment and playlist metrics. This means that even when people said positive things about these artists, it didn’t necessarily lead to more success on playlists.
Gender Differences
For female artists, the trends were different. Cardi B showed no clear link between public sentiment and playlist metrics. Nicki Minaj had a moderate positive correlation, suggesting that positive public sentiment helped her playlist success somewhat. On the other hand, Doja Cat had a weak negative correlation, even though the media sentiment was generally positive. This shows that public opinion impacts male and female artists differently.
Summary
These findings suggest that public opinion affects hip-hop artists in a nuanced way, with gender playing a significant role. For male artists, positive public sentiment doesn’t seem to significantly boost their streaming success. In contrast, female artists experience more varied impacts, indicating that other factors might influence their streaming performance more heavily.
One possible explanation for these findings is the difference in how male and female artists engage with their audiences and handle media scrutiny. Male artists like Travis Scott, Drake, and Kanye West might have a more robust fan base that is less influenced by media sentiment, relying instead on their music and performances. On the other hand, female artists like Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and Doja Cat might be more susceptible to fluctuations in public sentiment due to their highly interactive and visible presence on social media.
Another factor could be the nature of the controversies and public discussions surrounding these artists. Male artists often face backlash for their actions or statements, which might result in a skewed perception despite overall positive sentiment. Female artists, however, might experience polarized opinions due to their outspoken personalities and the societal double standards they face.
The Beat Goes On
Hip-hop’s journey from a neighborhood beat to a global powerhouse illustrates its profound impact on culture. It’s more than music; it’s a catalyst for change in fashion, language, and social justice. These findings highlight how public sentiment can influence the success of artists differently based on gender, suggesting that media strategies and public engagement play crucial roles in shaping an artist’s career.
For male artists, maintaining a strong fan base that is less swayed by media sentiment might be key to their continued success. Female artists, meanwhile, might benefit from strategies that manage public perception and leverage positive sentiment to boost their streaming performance. Understanding these dynamics can help artists, managers, and marketers develop more effective approaches to audience engagement and media interaction.
As we continue to groove to hip-hop’s rhythms, let’s also appreciate the powerful ways this genre influences our world. From setting fashion trends to driving social change and navigating the complexities of public sentiment, hip-hop remains a dynamic force in shaping contemporary culture
