Valence, Arousal, and Dominance in Hip-Hop Lyrics Across Time

Hip-Hop (HH) lyrics provide insight into the experiences of people of color. This study analyzed valence, arousal, and dominance levels in mainstream HH song lyrics from 1993–2022 to determine trends. A corpus of 450 songs was compiled and analyzed using sentiment analysis. Results showed medium overall valence, arousal, and dominance levels in HH lyrics. Valence and dominance decreased over time while arousal increased. The trends likely relate to factors such as commercialization, regional changes in HH, and societal shifts. The findings contradict stereotypes of HH as only negative. Clinically, familiarity with HH lyrics can enhance counselors' multicultural awareness, inform discussions about masculinity and vulnerability, and normalize mental health issues. This innovative linguistic analysis of mainstream HH lyrics provides a nuanced perspective of affective processes over time. Further qualitative research on sociocultural factors influencing themes in lyrics is recommended.