A concern to many interested in the development and growth of teenagers is a serious deterioration in the messages of some rock music. Rock music is considered a regenerative and revolutionary act by artists in the music industry--the energy center of a new culture. The psychological impact and meaning of rock music for adolescents is addressed as a joint function of the type of music and the social context in which it is heard. Research questions investigated were (1) Does rock/rap music have a measurable influence on teenagers? (2) Do adolescents who prefer this type of music have a higher incidence of negative behaviors? (3) Is high exposure to rock/rap music associated with high levels of involvement in the behavior and thought patterns advocated by the lyrics of rock/rap music? A review of literature, definitions, and assumptions are presented. Subjects were high school juniors and seniors from a rural area of West Virginia. Questionnaire data was analyzed by ANOVA. Results reveal an association between rock/rap music and suicide ideation, sexual permissiveness, and drug/alcohol abuse. Four recommendations are presented. The questionnaire is appended. (Contains 28 references.) (EMK)