A hip-hop state of mind is good for you (according to Cambridge Uni)

A project by researchers at the University of Cambridge has suggested that hip-hop could help cure mental illness and increase diversity in the mental health workforce.
Publishing their findings in The Lancet medical journal, Dr Akeem Sule and Dr Becky Inkster, co-founders of HIP HOP PSYCH, explain that they believe hip-hop is the perfect tool for opening up the discussion and de-bunking the stigma of mental illness.
Dr Sule explains: ‘Much of hip-hop comes from areas of great socioeconomic deprivation, so it’s inevitable that its lyrics will reflect the issues faced by people brought up in these areas, including poverty, marginalisation, crime and drugs,’
He goes on: ‘In fact, we can see in the lyrics many of the key risk factors for mental illness, from which it can be difficult to escape. Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free. There’s often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be – the cars they want to own, the models they want to date.’


And Biggie fans will be especially happy, as the study specifically highlighted the benefits of the positive imagery in his 1994 hit Juicy, explaining: ‘We speculate that patients with depression who are interested in hip-hop music could be encouraged to enhance positive images of themselves, their situations, and the future, through this form of music.’
So there you have it. F*ck the haters – hip-hop’s good for you.