Music is an essential trait of the human species.

All cultures, even the primitive to the technology based,

are virtually known to make music. Music runs through our lifespans.
Our brain is trained to know he changes between noises, and respond to tunes. A group of studies show
that music may improve one’s health and performance.[1]

In studying how each music preference of an individual affects the brain, the interactions of the regions of
the brain- Jonathan Burdette, M.D., used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that shows brain
activity while displaying the blood flow. They called 21 people and made them listen to five genres they
most liked and most disliked (classical, country, rap, rock, Chinese opera) and a song that is their
favourite from the said genre.
The Fmri scans showed that the listeners’ preferences, had the greatest impact on brain connectivity,
mostly on the brain region that deals with thought, empathy, and self awareness.[2]

Kolateral,created by the rap collective SANDATA, is an NGO who uses the data from the so-called “drug
war” to be activists and resist the government, more so, the Duterte administration’s drug war.
The 12- track album is used by the masses to protest, to have a voice. In the album, the problems are
presented in and of itself, and by the time we reach the conclusion, it presents more empowering themes
that help the masses reject the current administration.
Kolateral is a rap album that is unusual. In a sense that, it presents heavier themes that a lot of hip-hop
artists in the present time are afraid to talk about. The lyrics are hard hitting, even without using an
explicit word. [3]

Multiple researchers have noticed a link between music and dopamine. Though the only similarities that
comes across the genres, each person reacts to a different stimuli.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders tested 12 rappers in an Fmri
machine. These rappers were told torap memorized lyrics, and heir own rhymes while projecting to an 8-
bar track.
The scans showed that during the rapper’s flow, the brain displayed unique patterns in language,
motivation. Emotion and motor function. According to the scientists’ interpretation, it suggests that the
rappers enetered a “different state of mind”. [4]

1. Harvard Health Publishing, URL: (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/music-and-

health), February 18, 2020.
2. R. W. Wilkins, D. A. Hodges, P. J. Laurienti, M. Steen, J. H. Burdette. (2014).  Network
Science and the Effects of Music Preference on Functional Brain Connectivity: From
Beethoven to Eminem. Scientific Reports,; 4: 6130 DOI

3. 'Kolateral' rages against the 'drug war' – here’s why you need to listen, URL:
(https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/235365-kolateral-album-review ), February 18,
2020

4. This is your brain on hip-hop. URL: (mashable.com/2017/12/14/science-of-hip-hop/ ), February

18, 2020