Mont Vernon suspect reported fan of ‘horrorcore' music
(NECN: Brad Puffer) – It has been nearly a week since the murder of a New Hampshire mother and an attack that nearly killed her daughter. Four teenagers were placed into custody, and the search for answers in this allegedly random crime has led to the suspects’ taste in music. The lyrics are violent and disturbing. They include repeated graphic descriptions of brutal murder. A type of hip-hop music called horrorcore. “It’s brutal, it’s violent but it is also entertainment. At least it is supposed to be,” The Boston Phoenix music critic Chris Faraone. Now that genre of music is being connected to two killings in the past month. First, 20-year-old horrorcore rapper allegedly killed a family of four in Virginia, after attending a music festival there. And Steven Spader, one of the teenagers accused of killing a New Hampshire mother with machete, is also reportedly a fan of horrorcore music, and the band Insane Clown Posse. “If you are that kind of aggressive kid I don’t think you are going to be listening to indie pop, so of course it fits,” Faraone said. Chris Faraone is a hip-hop music critic for the Boston Phoenix. He said this type of music is much more popular than many might think. “People have no idea how big this is,” Faraone said. “Insane Clown Posse are millionaires many times over.” But many experts we spoke with say horrorcore, movies or violent video games alone should not be blamed for the brutal murder in New Hampshire. “Sure there are some studies that show violent lyrics can make people feel hostile, but feeling hostile is a far cry from murdering people,” Northeastern University professor James Fox said. Criminologist James Fox said while music itself should not be blamed, it can reinforce violent tendencies. “This is not harmless, it does impact people’s attitudes, thoughts and emotions,” Fox said. And with the internet, the most violent of music and video can be found online, downloaded and listened to without anyone else hearing, leaving some parents unaware of what those lyrics are really all about. “They don’t the names of the bands, they don’t know anything about the music and they are not hearing about the music,” Fox said. It’s just one more insight into the world of four teenagers now accused in this random attack. But despite all the insights, there are still many questions left unanswered.
