Rap and son's attitude

[MixDoDo]

I have considered putting this in AIBU. But then I thought I might be ridiculed, and I'm not sure that it is funny .

I have a 13 year old teenage son who (genuinely) loves rap or grime or whatever - music in that vein anyway.

Recently, his way of speaking from normal to just "dumbdown" street has gone down to a new level. e.g."free" instead of "three", the t consonant has all but disappeared, and so on.

I think one strong influence here is the way they speak in rap/grime/whatever - all dumbed down. I think this is what my son has been copying in everyday speech, though he vehemently denies it.

(On another issue with rap is the violence and negativity and hatred but my brain honesly can't compute that as well at the moment).

I know it sounds trivial, but its all beginning to seriously grate. The whole Kevin teenage thing wiv like downtown Peckham rambling voiceover 'fing going on.

I feel a bit embarrassed posting this, but anyway any words of wisdom please?

I actually really enjoy some rap music.

I don't use the slang/lingo though

There's only one answer to this:

Yesss G

The sooner you stop worrying about it the sooner he'll move on.

Every new generation does it to the preceding one. Consciously or not, music and fashion are a way to break free -from the shackles-.

FGTH Anyone?

He's going through a phase. It'll pass. It's not him, it's just an act. A way to feel cool. And why is he listening to mysoginy? Because a lot of decent rap music is NOT about the 'hoes'!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Westwood

"Critics have also derided Westwood's apparent emulation of Black British pronunciation and dialect, which is claimed to be at odds with his white middle-class British origins.[27] In response to this Westwood stated "Honestly, baby, I get love out there, pure and simple".[28] His father, Bill Westwood, was the Anglican Bishop of Peterborough until 1996, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio, particularly Thought for the Day on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme."

My Godson is like that still. He used to come out with things being "Long" as in - not going all the way to the shops with mum, that's "Long". Things being "Bear" too. (I think bear was a good thing? What do I know?). It always amuses me to hear white middle class kids being "gangsta" (in their minds anyway.

It all reminds me of that comedy sketch with the two airmen I think it was/soldiers? From years ago that talk all that gangsta crap. Fabulous/bear whatever!

My dad remembers a West Indian woman on a bus rolling her eyes at a friend and saying her son used the words "Well Boomy" and she wondered what on earth that meant and why he had to talk like that!

If you are still reading OP.
I found the best way to put a stop to this is to do it yourself.
I made up my own and used it for ages.
It was a mix of the real thing, stuff from the 80s, bit of jazz slang and Polari and some totally made up.

It was hilarious for me

I'm a bit cockney, but the day my DD said her friend was going to Malta, without using the t was a step too far, even for me.

I tried writing it how she said it, couldn't.

Mrsfring

As others have suggested I find replying using the same language and accent effective.

You need to out embarrasse him.

"OK bruv u eatin' dat food or is I shankin' u?"

My sons weep with embarrassment and change how they speak.

Oh this takes me back.

My DBro went through this. My DM and DD still like bringing out the 'photos' of him in his 'gear' of which his adult self is quite embarrassed.

It is a phase and he will probably grow out of it.

Plus he is now a director of a big company. Looking at those photos it wouldn't be where you would have thought he would have ended up.

I may be wrong but I am assuming your boy is white?
He will sound like a twat (sorry to call your beloved boy a twat)

This ^

DS and his (privately educated and very middle-class) friends went through a "gangsta" phase. It was short-lived ,possibly because even they realised that they sounded like twats or maybe it was the merciless mocking from DD and I every time DS tried out a glottal stop or ventured out in his snapback hat.

I think you have to fight fire with fire like PPs have suggested and talk to him in the same stupid accent and language. Hopefully it will jolt him into realising how ridiculous he sounds. Also agree that the violence and sexism is more of a concern. You definitely don't want that becoming engrained in him.

Not the same at all, but this has reminded me of when my lovely, sweet aunty banned my cousins from listening to Craig David back in the day because she thought it was gangster rap

"Yo bruv is you homework done innit? Me and yo pops is gon do some shagin' now, sweet"

Hours, he will stop in hours.

"Dis bitch is done cookin' yo scran cos it's long man, where is yo sniff man?"

it reminds me of this!

Thank God I've got away without this particular teen phase.

It's either that or kids (mainly girls) talking in that upwardly-inflected posho Made In Chelsea accent (Er my Gerd, I love hem!")

Love the suggestions to join in

Pastoral

I remember my mum walking alongside me vaguely singing "Relax" in a jaunty reedy sort of voice.

I felt well moded

I have an ex who has been in love with rap music and hip hop since he was probably 10, maybe even earlier. He's white (if that matters)

He is now chair of his department at a prestigious university.

And, he still listens to rap music

THE HORROR!!!!!

Grow up.

Fam, ur being both basic AND extra! Chill before you get bunned off by pars cuz!

I am a 23 year old mother and I still say "free" instead of "three" and don't pronounce my T's in the middle! Either he'll grow out of it or he won't but it's not a big deal.

Oh and I'm white shock horror