How Migos’ “Bad & Boujee” Changed the Culture of Trap Music with One Video
When we think of trap music, most people are put in mind of 808s and gritty lyrics riddled with both Pyrex references and bullet holes. Also native to the culture are salaciously seductive video vixens usually wearing a little less than nothing (for modesty’s sake) and entertaining us, Blue Flame style, in the privacy of our homes.
Now it seems to be the dawn of a new day. Migo’s Billboard hit “Bad & Boujee” took over the urban world (and yes, when I say urban I mean Black), an anthem of the nights where a woman looks her best and feels her best with her confidence and nose up high. Every woman has that moment where she feels positively and flawlessly fly; she is “ dipped in chocolate, bronzed in elegance, enameled with grace, [and] toasted with beauty…” Thank you Josef Ben-Jochannan for so eloquently giving life to that extra dip in our hip.
Typically, hip hop music, specifically trap music carries a heavily misogynistic undertone that many find derogatory towards women, especially women of color. The music videos of old, have done little to aid the case of objectification. And then this happened…
Admittedly, I haven’t watched a video in years. Since the death of shows like “106 & Park” (which came much sooner than its end date), there is no centralized location for the breaking visuals, so one is pretty much left to word of mouth. I actually watched the video to see Offset’s performance. Being that he has had substantial trouble with the law in the last year and a half or so, the excitement of the new music with everyone present was enough for me.
Cue intro!
As the visual begins, we are immediately introduced to two women (@_rubirose & vkvibes), both very stylishly put together. The scene moves into Offset’s performance shot in which we see both women effortlessly posed with very little movement as Offset’s verse ushers us through the opening peaks and valleys of the track. The women begin to engage us with their natural sensuality and high fashion-like power stances, drawing attention to themselves while creating a striking visual parallel with Offset, dressed in all black.
In the next scene we see the group eating fried chicken and having champagne, an obvious nod to all the things we say won’t change when we “get on” (I’m patiently waiting to do some sh*t like this). The ladies are now featured as the guests of this luxury “take in” experience where they sit poised, impeccably styled, and with the obvious unwavering interest from the men who appreciate them. By this time in most other videos, women would have been carouseled in and out leaving no real connection for the viewer to form, much less anything to admire from their brief (however entertaining) appearances. In this video, the viewers are able to see the women and appreciate their personas without objectification, maybe a little envy from women and men alike, but the general consensus is “Damn!”
Decked in designer labels, literally from crown to sole, these women become much more than the traditional “video girls”. They become the bridge between the music and respectability. Some may replay the chorus “My b*tches is bad and boujee” with sentiments of disrespect towards women. But ladies, let’s be honest there are a million ways we can be a b*tch. We have been called far worse for much less. This visual, however, is a powerful in its sense of “every woman” light, brown, and dark. There is no room for colorism and certainly no body negativity as these ladies look to all be below a size 6 (shoutout to the thin girls who get N O Love these days).
There is little room for a woman in any capacity in the hip hop industry; much less a woman to be portrayed with respect and class. The Migos obviously gave much thought to how these women would be portrayed but I’m certain they were unaware of the impact it would leave behind. The juxtaposition between the traditional culture of rap music and the roles in which women are typically portrayed has always made it difficult for self respecting Black women to enjoy rap music.
I mean, everyone woman has an inner b*tch, one that we are proud of and happy to become. The bad b*tch conundrum often comes about when we are forced between political correctness and how we feel inside. Yes, sometimes we feel sexy as f*ck = bad. Further assuaging us of this guilty pleasure are these three gorgeous models fashion clad, fierce, and fabulous, portraying what we all imagine dating a rapper would be like.
(It usually isn’t but maybe after this and Gucci proposing to Keyshia they’ll get it together.)
