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I'm going to second John Myers comments above. This discussion has veered way off course. Yes, some kids get influenced by rap music or any other negative influence in our culture (movies, internet, tv, etc.), but to make it primary reason for explain inner city crime is pretty short sighted.
And, to stretch this thinking further, then wouldn't most bluegrass also produce communities of violence and alcoholism, or the blues produce widespread depression and lots of sleeping around? I feel like these arguments seem to only cherry pick a few types of music because its convenient. Music is human expression and represents our reality, if that is a positive or negative reality is secondary to that fact.
Just like any other intractable problem in this world, inner city violence is complex, and the byproduct of a number of factors creating conditions which lead to violence, you can't pinpoint one cause or one solution that explains it all away. I live on the south side and wish there was a magic bullet as well to make the streets safe and make the violence stop, but its not that easy.
All we can do is focus on the fundamentals, better policing, better parenting, economic security, and throwing support and resources at the kids at risk of falling into the same cycle of violence that under minds their community.
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