“The same effect on the human brain can produce rhythmic sound. It is well known how the aborigines get into trance while dancing to drums. The modern science found other ways how to influence human brain by sound frequencies. For example if you deliver to one ear a sound in the frequency of 200 Hz and into the other one the sound in the frequency of 210 Hz , the electric frequency of 10 Hz will dominate in the brain, since large portions of neurons in the brain will synchronize the frequency of their activity to this external impulse. This phenomenon is called entrainment. In other words by means of external stimulation it is possible to change our brain activity and our frame of mind. How does this change happen? All the brain activity is a system of electric and chemical reactions. The neuroscientist Norman Shealy measured the chemical changes in the brain at the frequency of 7,8 Hz which is the frequency at which the ionosphere oscillates. Norman Shealy found out that if the brain is tuned (by light or sound stimulation) to this frequency the production of growth hormones increases by 25 % as well as the production of gonadoliberin (which influences sexual organs and hormones) and oxytocin (which produces the feelings of love). The production of betaendorphin (which causes feeling of euphoria) increased substantially as well. This goes to prove that different brain frequencies cause the production of different chemicals in the brain and body which influence our mood and motivation.”- International Movement For The Ban of Manipulation of Human Nervous System By Technical Means

The ancients understood the relationship between sound and emotions. Chanting and singing have their origins in the fact early humans realized they could to raise the vibratory levels of their internal organs and central nervous system through the utterances of the human voice and later via instrumentation. So called new Age Alterative Healing Modalities are using sound and electromagnetic machines to restore harmonium and regulate the internal biorhythms of the human body as well as impact the external environment. Our African ancestors used sounds and rhythms especially drum beats to induce trance states during communal rituals and ceremonies to promote altered states of consciousness to help the family village or clan to collectively attune to the higher frequencies and dimensions existent all around them to enable them to experience communications from the ancestors and Infinite Spirit/Intelligence. These participatory ritual had a profound impact and effect on each person and the collective. Modern Western cultures are just beginning to fully understand how this works and employ sound in ways that heal but more so in ways that debase and dehumanize. In the chapter on Sound Therapy in the book entitled Alternative Medicine The Definitive Guide we read “People respond to sound vibrations in two main ways: via rhythm entrainment and resonance. According to Stephen Halpern PhD. of San Anselmo California ‘Rhythm entrainment describes the phenomenon whereby, in the presence of any external rhythmic stimulus, the natural rhythm of the heartbeat will be overridden and caused to pulse in sync with the sound source. This may be the rhythm of drums, or the rhythmic pulse of the music, or it may just be your refrigerator’s motor. Resonance refers to the physical phenomenon in which different frequencies of sound (different pitches) stimulate the body to vibrate in different areas. Typically, low sound resonates in the lower parts of the body and high sound resonates in the higher parts of the body.” page 440
The nerves carry the vibratory impulses through the ear to the brain and from there nervous signals are sent via the vagus nerve which regulates breathing, speech, and heart rate to the throat, larynx heart and diaphragm. ibid Sounds or vibration frequencies affect specific parts of the brain. Rhythm impacts the reptilian brain (R-complex) which controls communication, body language and other vital functions. Tonal vibrations also influence human emotions and midbrain functions. Sounds also affect the human bodies own unique biorhythms. Non Western views of the body postulate the organs vibrate in synchronicity and once these inner harmonies are disturbed illness or disease manifests. To my way of thinking if vibrations impact the various parts of the brain and central nervous system and these impact our total system we should be very discriminating about the types of sounds, music and vibrations we subject ourselves to! Music wise we know certain tones, cords, melodies and rhythms influence our emotions. Just as healer are attempting to use vibrations and sounds to enhance wellness and healing we can connect the dots and realize much of the “music” the vibrations, lyrics and dynamism it contains is having an adverse impact on us. We should take a serious look at the effect of music on our people. We must examine the total package, the rhythms, tones, cords, lyrics, video images, posturing, publicity and marketing to make a determination whether or not the music is beneficial or malevolent in its form and content. African-American music has always had its critics both within our community and outside of it. Jazz, Blues and Rhythm and Blues were called “Devil Music”. I am suggesting that the music is far more influential than we suspect. Music not only influences our world view, values and emotions it also impact our health! We see how influential the rappers are in our culture, how our children look up to them and how they know the lyrics and beats of all their songs but don’t know anything about African history or themselves!
The lyrics on most albums and CDs are more than suggestive, they are so explicit they leave nothing to the imagination. They promote violence, fratricide, misogyny, they are facilitating a gender and generational disconnect that is undermining and sabotaging any possibility of self and group love/cohesion and counter attack. We are literally being programmed for self-destruction. To ad insult to injury we are the primary agents of our own demise, we are doing to ourselves! I am not proposing blanket censorship of songs, music videos and CDs. I am advocating being informed about the ways music affects us and becoming critical and discerning media consumers. If we discern an artist is a negative influence we should not allow his products in our home, period. If we conclude a certain record company is a conduit for negative music, dehumanizing and anti-African videos we should call them on it and boycott their products if they continue to produce that type of garbage even if it is a black owned company. We don’t have to go out like this, there are a lot of things we can do to protect ourselves from negative and destructive influences in the media. All we need is the information, the will and resolve to do the right thing.
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