Sociology journal Transition has a fascinating article giving a history of the surprisingly frequent appearance of schizophrenia in rap music.
In psychiatric circles, schizophrenia is considered a serious mental illness that causes delusions, hallucinations, and social withdrawal. But in rap, schizophrenia means something else: a mode of defiance, a boast, or a threat. The term appears frequently when describing competition between rappers. In “Speak Ya Clout,” the duo Gang Starr rhymes that they are “schizophrenic with rhyme plus we’re well organized” as a way of warning that they are “stepping rugged and tough.”
This isn’t coal it’s a fricking diamond. I’ve been offended by rappers songs about psychosis and schizophrenia and lots of violence. I may be violent inside over experiences from the past, yet I’m not so stupid as to not understand that this is a fear motivated state, and most of the time wouldn’t even mention let alone do…
Bipolar is trendy in certain circles - I predict that schizophrenia will catch up soon. Anything out of the norm seems to catch on quick - the term schizophrenic is used sometimes by mainstream media - describing a mixed up or complex situation
You hear celebrities talk about their split personalities a lot. Niki minaj talked about it recently and beyonce but I think they are talking about the difference between how they are in real life vs how they are on stage. Then there is Rosanne Barr and Herschel Walker who had trauma in their past.
The author has some other interesting articles if you Google him. “How schizophrenia became a black disease.” and “Selling Sanity Through Gender: The Psychodynamics of Psychotropic Advertising.”