Like heavy metal was during the '80s, rap music -- especially the sub-genre of gangsta rap -- is the target of choice for the '90s.

Although heavy metal came under fire for its supposed satanic underbelly and suicidal impulses, gangsta rap has been critized for its unblinking violent nature, homophobia and misogynistic attitudes.

And those flames have only been fanned in recent months by criminal charges brought against Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tupac Shakur, two of gangsta rap's brightest stars. Both are still awaiting trial, Snoop on a murder charge and Shakur for allegedly shooting two off-duty police officers.

The incidents have sparked a major debate about gangsta rap -- one that has brought a number of leaders in the black community, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, to speak out against this form of expression. Inner City Broadcasting, with its two stations in New York City and Berkeley, Calif., has officially pulled all songs with questionable intent off its playlists.

In all, there is as much debate within the black community about how the situation has been handled as there has been about the genre itself. Kenneth Clarke, the Center for Ethics and Religious Studies assistant director, said these "blanket condemnations" against gangsta rap are not dealing with the problems in a proper manner.

"We need to listen to it carefully in order to establish connections with these people, the rappers as well as the youth drawn to it," Clarke said, adding that rap is the language of the young black generation. "In many ways, this is what moves them. It is important to build a dialogue so that the critique can be made in a relational type of way."

The controversy has seemingly focused the attention away from the real problem -- a society that feeds off of violence and sexual interactions based on conquest, Clarke said.

"We must look at gangsta rap in the context of a society that celebrates violence," he said. "In many ways, this is a response that has been engendered and fed by a society that denegrates people."

As much criticism gangsta rap has received, it doesn't seem to be losing momentum. Even after charges were brought against him, Snoop's debut album, Doggystyle, charted at No. 1 in its first week of release, following in the footsteps of mentor Dr. Dre's chart-topper The Chronic.

Dwayne Terrell, who uses the pseudonym DJ Small World when hosting WPSU-FM's "Jam '91," said holding back gangsta rap won't prohibit the genre from growing because most of the music is still underground, all but ignored by commercial radio and MTV.

"There is no doubt some of the strongest voices around come from rap music," said Terrell (junior-film). "It talks about what they're going through, and unless you're black, you probably don't know."

But as much as gangsta rap is a reflector of the times, it also produces disillusionment. Dawn Williams, Black Caucus vice-president, supports her black "brothers" who are making the music, but said she believes their views foster an attitude of self-destruction, especially in their personification of women.

"If you're hearing that you're a 'b,' or a ho, or a hoochie, then you're going to come to the conclusion that maybe you are one," said Williams (senior-English and English education). "Something like that hurts more coming from a black man."

Terrell agreed with Williams, saying he believes some gangsta rap not only misrepresents black women but, at times, the race itself.

"I think that's very true because it's degrading the black race in some respects -- to use terms like nigger, bitch and ho in their music," he said.

The power of rap lies in its appeal, not only to the inherent black audience but to the white one it has established, Clarke said.

Joanna Kempner (sophomore-sociology) said there are many aspects of rap music that she enjoys, including the funky beats, but on the whole, gangsta rap just goes over her head.

"I don't really get the political aspect of it as much as I get from, say, a Public Enemy or a Digable Planets," Kempner said.

Rap has managed to cross generational gaps as well, appealing to Clarke himself.

"I have come to appreciate and respect it as a viable art form -- four years ago I wouldn't have said this," said Clark, who is in his late 30s. "At the same time, that's not to say that I don't have problems with certain aspects of it."

But Clarke said with some directional input, gangsta rap will grow and mature because it reflects the strong oral traditions in black culture.

"In many ways, it has helped them make sense of their reality, experiences of alienation, frustration and fear," he said. "If we really want to hear what young African Americans are saying, we need to pay serious attention to rap."