Music has played a vital role in human culture and evidence based on archaeological sites can trace it back to prehistoric times. It can be traced in almost all civilizations in one form or another. As time has progressed, music and the influences it has on people have also progressed. Music is an important part of popular culture around the world, but it is especially popular in the United States. The music industry here is, and has been, a multi-million dollar business that continues to play an important role in American popular culture. This is also an art form and a business that continually changes with the passage of times and, more importantly, with changes in technology. Technology has changed the way music is created, as well as how it is produced, marketed, sold, performed, and other various factors associated with music. Women's rights have progressed in recent history as have gender roles associated with both sexes. The feminist movement has made great strides for the betterment and advancement of women in this country. Women are seen as equal at home and in the workplace because of this feminist movement and theory. Women are not content with being stay-at-home moms and are pursuing higher education and better professions previously reserved for men. The feminist movement fights for women in all aspects and is not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Throughout my generation I have seen examples and conflicts between music and the feminist movement in multiple cases. The artifact I chose for this assignment is Fat Joe and Lil Wayne's recently popular song, "Make It Rain." This song came out in 2006 but achieved more popularity with the 2007 remix. This is also a song that was nominated for a Grammy Award... middle of paper... the problem will continue or even get worse. American culture and society need to make a change and set their own priorities to make a change for the next generations. Works Cited Adams, Terri, and Douglas Fuller. “Things have changed but the ideology remains the same: misogynistic lyrics in rap music.” Journal of Black Studies. Wise publications. Network. April 18, 2011. Johnson, James D., Mike S. Adams, Leslie Ashburn, and William Reed. “Gender Differential Effects of Exposure to Rap Music on African American Adolescents' Acceptance of Teen Dating Violence.” Sex Roles 33.7-8 (1995): 597-605. Print.Martinez, Theresa A. “Popular Culture as Oppositional Culture: Rap as Resistance.” Sociological Perspectives 40.2 (1997): 265-86. JSTOR. University of California Press. Network. April 18. 2011.