Feminism Through Rap Music

Music is a powerful tool in conveying the message across. Rap music is a genre that came to be in second half of the twentieth century. In the USA. In rap, verbal expression, which is spoken and not sang, is the main aspect of it. And because of that, it is easy to examine all of the language tools that are used in this genre. This genre is one of the most popular ones in the world, and like that, the problem of the misogynistic message is serious. Messages such that carry hate towards women, objectifying them, and showing them as inferior in comparison to men, they propagandize violence towards women… The influence that those messages have on forming adolescents’ identity is strong.

The thing that is different in rap music from all other genres is the complete domination of words in songs. Rhythm is in the shadow of words, that is not sung, but spoken, sometimes very fast. Rap music came into existence as art and as a means to express marginalized African American population that is propagating resistance to the system and calling to rebel, and today is one of the most dominating forces in the world of music. The influence that it has on its listeners is huge. Because it does not just spread the music, but also the culture and life that comes within. Fans often identify themselves with artists, they become their role models and everything they want from life. The ‘street talk’, the way they dress, the music, the graffiti, and breakdance are just some of the specifics of hip-hop. Some of the themes that often do appear in the songs are criminal, drugs, prostitution, ghetto, sex…

***Language has the power to create a partially new view on reality. There is still a problem in making a difference between words and acts, and trying to prove that abuse of language tools is still one way of bullying.

Just like any other genre of music, rap has its aesthetics and art value, which no one is questioning. But what it also the same for all genres is that there is open misogyny in all of them, which I do question. The open misogyny did not appear (it did exist) in rap music until the 80s of the 20th century. Those were the years that gangsta rap was created, which did bring this theme on the table and made it popular, making misogyny a constant in rap music. And when asked about it, the artist would simply answer that they are ‘just telling it how it is’. Misogyny is a dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. It basically brings women down to an object, owned by men, for their use and abuse. Women are reduced to being something just for sex, abuse, and they are more than often represented as burden to men.

Even tho rap music is enjoyed by many, its audience is mostly young adults and teenagers. And in that period, when they are forming their personalities, their opinions, their identities, factors from outside of the house have a big influence.

Misogyny can be found as calling women a term of abuse, sexually objectifying them, untrust towards them, promoting violence against women, promoting prostitution and sponsorship. Such examples are Ugly God- Bitch with the most profound lyrics ever:

Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch

Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch

Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch

Bitch, bitch

And in comparison to that, here is an example of how a female took this word, made it her own so that it can never be used against her, Lil’ Kim in Queen Bitch:

I am a diamond cluster hustler, queen bitch, supreme bitch

Another example of obvious misogyny in rap music is MX in X is coming:

Tryin’ to send the bitch back to her maker

And if you got a daughter older then 15, I’mma rape her

Take her on the living room floor, right there in front of you

Then ask you seriously, whatchu wanna do?”

And to contrast that with few examples of female empowerment, we have Brooke Candy with Das me:

You say that I’m a slut

It ain’t your business who I’m fucking with

A dude could fuck 3 bitches and they’d say that he’s the man

But I get it in with twins, she’s a whore

That’s what they saying

It’s time to take the word back, ‘slut’ is now a compliment

And Lauryn Hill with Doo-Wop :

Baby girl, respect is just a minimum

Niggas fucked up and you still defending ’em

Now, Lauryn is only human

Don’t think I haven’t been through the same predicament

Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn

It’s silly when girls sell their souls because it’s in

It is crazy how low the bar is, not just in music, but in life in general when Beastie Boys were celebrated for writing these lyrics in their song Sure Shot:

I want to say a little something that’s long overdue

The disrespect to women has got to be through

To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends

I want to offer my love and respect to the end

They are showing how much they have grown as artists and people, they acknowledge misogyny that exists and hold women in the highest respect.

Life in ghetto, prostitution, men that control women and do what they please with them, a life filled with luxury, are just some of the ideals that this genre paints as a ‘fairytale’.

In rap music, the point of view is in the first person, and with that, the artist and listener are put in the same shoes. And from that, they adopt the artists’ opinions, they start talking the way they talk, and they use lyrics as something to live by.

So how does feminism that came through hip-hop relate to other genres of music?