The Future of Rap Music and Marriage
A Compromising Commitment
Jay Z, Gucci Mane, and Ice Cube are all married while Offset along with his fiancé, Cardi B, are on their way to this reality. They have something in common, yes all of are apart of the minority group but more than that, they are all part rappers who are great at what they do and vowed to a romantic life with one person. Although most people may see this as something normal, this is rare in this industry as it produces its best music when coupled with hyper masculine and misogynistic views.
In 2005, the Memphis group, Three 6 Mafia, won the Academy Award for best original song in a feature film with It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp from the film Hustle and Flow. The perfect example of glorifying the exploitation of women was awarded and still is today with songs like another Memphis artist, Yo Gotti, newest single, Rake it Up, as he raps in one of his verses:
“I know the bad bitches but know niggas who bitches too
They should bleed once a month ’cause that’s what these bitches do
You a bitch and ya bitch should expose you
All that pillow talking nigga that’s what the hoes do.”
These lyrics present the images of women in a derogatory fashion as their biological make up is degraded and images of men without emotional attachment. Gotti and men as such see sharing your day with someone at the end of a long day as soft.
Also, Nicki Minaji lyrics add to this unfortunate hyper masculinity as she raps:
“I’mma do splits on it, yes, splits on it, I’m a bad bitch, I’mma throw fits on it
I’mma bust it open, I’mma go stupid and be a ditz on it
I don’t date honey, cookie on tsunami
All my niggas wife me once they get that good punan
I think he need a Bonnie, I might just let him find me
Never trust a big butt and a smile, word to Ronnie
Rep Queens like Supreme, ask Web and Nitty
Ask Bimmy and Joe, nigga run me my dough”
Although she is a woman, Minaji uses her lyrics as a form of hyper-masculinity by conforming to the way male rappers confine women through sexual objection and finances.
Therefore, rappers and their wives or husbands may be followed forever with the insertion of the famous thinking emoji as this serves as a contradiction to the rap industry. Of course, we live in a new generation where husbands and wives go to the strip clubs together, husbands cook dinner, and women take out the trash, but this way of life is different. In rap music, everything is about society’s perspective and marriage is not a popular one unless you’ve made your mark.
Certain star such as Jay Z and Ice Cube are exempt from these rules of marriage. They are media moguls who openly express their flaws and life in their marriage, but who’s empire is built off who they were before the new age of rap became so popular. Jay Z is able to openly express himself about sliding the panties off of the hottest chick in the game wearing his chain, Beyonce, and beating her box up like Mike Tyson because he has earned his stripes and is a legend. Ice Cube is the same as the fromer N.W.A member encourages people to put their back into it in 1999 after already experiencing seven years of marriage to longtime wife, Kimberly Woodruff.
The compromise comes for the new generation and their new trap phenomenon because there is no way to the top charts without it. The best songs are less conscious and built for singleness. Marriage makes things too traditional in world filled with radical beings and creative thought patterns. When the majority of rappers began to find themselves married, hip hop as we know it will become obsolete.
If artists decide to subtract sexual exploits and the variation of material wealth within, it will be bad for business. Most social and political messages work for main stream artists who are forced into pop artistry. For rappers, this eventually erase their pure rap title. The intended audience of young adults who are encouraged to soar their wild oaks while being young, wild, and free will still listen to their music because of familiarity, but those coming under them will experience a difficult journey.
As the more known rappers began to speak on their marriages and commitment, their younger mentor make become their walking contradiction and feel the pressure to follow. Without this freedom, there will be no more turn up music, hits for strippers, nor appealing up and coming artists who can remain relevant.
Demarcus is currently a student at Morehouse College. He majors in English and minors in Journalism.
