Who You Calling A B*tch?
With some of our biggest hip hop moguls being women, isn’t it strange that there is still such rampant sexism and disrespect from their counterparts?
Critics have found that hip hop tends to display five main themes of misogyny, including the “…derogatory naming and shaming of women, sexual objectification of women, distrust of women, legitimation of violence against women, and the celebration of prostitution and pimping” (Williams). Examples of these themes can be found not only in the lyricism of rappers, but also through the visual portrayal of women in popular music videos.
Many rappers of today’s generation — and previous ones — describe the women in their music in a disrespectful manner, labeling them according to what is known as a sexual script. These scripts are personas that are repeatedly placed upon women throughout media, the most popular and well-known being that of a gold digger. The strongest example of its use is by no other than Kanye West in his 2005 song “Gold Digger.” The song begins with the lyrics “She take my money when I’m in need. Yeah, she’s a triflin’ friend indeed. Oh, she’s a gold digger” (Kanye West). Many will argue that these lyrics don’t truly say anything about women or how the artist may think of them, that this portrayal of a conniving woman who wants nothing more from a man than his money is harmful in no way. What they fail to acknowledge is that these depictions can and do become realities that women must suffer with. It results in generations of men treating women in a misogynistic manner, because it was made okay to do so by their favorite artist. Another well-known and respected artist to speak of women in a poor manner is Drake, who often describes women in his music to need his saving, or simply as overtly sexual women with plans to take advantage of his fame and money (Daily Beast). In a recent song from his Certified Lover Boy album, Drake tells a woman in the song, “You a turnt up little thotty, ain’t no wife about it. I’ma f*ck her friends and send her back to metro housin’” (Drake). This exemplifies the sexual objectification of women within the genre by shaming their sexuality and implying that less respect is deserved because of it, all while pushing the narrative that a man being sexual in that sense is completely fine.
Within hip hop, women are not just spoken about in a derogatory manner but also visually represented in such a way, specifically in popular music videos. One of the most infamous cases in which a woman is seen being treated in a gross and misogynistic manner is within the video of “Tip Drill” by Nelly. In a 2003 BET uncut video, Nelly is seen to be heavily groping multiple women before taking a credit card and swiping it between the buttocks of one of the women. The scene was met with unending backlash as it was one of the most grotesque portrayals of women seen in an artist’s video. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of women being visually represented in this way. They are cast in music videos as dwindled down, gyrating body parts, and viewed as nothing more by many within the genre.
Many women in hip hop have begun to combat this issue of sexism and misogyny in their own way, whether that be through lyrics or through visual means. One of the most notable songs in this vein is Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.” “The late 1980’s and early 1990’s had ushered in an era where Black women were commonly being referred to as bitches and ‘hoes.’ Latifah challenged this and initiated the establishment of a new standard for relating to and dealing with Black women” (Merriday). With her Grammy Award-winning song “U.N.I.T.Y,” Queen Latifah shifted the tide. She made it known and clear that women were not okay with being called these derogatory terms and simply writing it off as “just music.” This example paved the way for many artists, male and female, to become more conscious of the blatant disrespect towards women and combat it within their own music.
The sexism and misogyny of hip hop is still prevalent today, but many artists have taken it into their own hands to fight against this negative pattern. Whether it is female-empowering rappers like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion or socially conscious rappers like J. Cole, the future generation of hip hop is beginning to change the narrative towards a much more inclusive genre.
Messaging about Women in Hip Hop Playlist
“Gold Digger “— Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx (2005)
Gold Digger, an award-winning track by Kanye West, is a prime example of misogynistic scripts being forced upon women through the genre of hip hop. A ‘gold digger’ is one of the most common sexual scripts seen within music and media. The term describes a woman who is willing to enter a romantic or sexual relationship with a man under the ulterior motivation of getting money from him. While it is normalized within the music we hear, the stereotypes being perpetuated can be harmful to women as it creates the idea that women are only seeing a payout from a man.
“Tip Drill “— Nelly (2003)
“Tip Drill,” a 2003 single released by Nelly, may go down as being one of the most infamous rap music videos to date. In a since-deleted BET video, Nelly is seen to take a credit card and swipe it between the buttocks of a woman. The raunchy display was immediately met with backlash, and rightfully so. In a song that was already filled with explicit and sexual lyrics about women, many found it distasteful and degrading to use her body in such a manner for the video.
“Way 2 Sexy “— Drake ft. Future, Young Thug (2021)
“Way 2 Sexy,” a collaboration between Drake, Future, and Young Thug, is quoted to be a sexually charged male-empowerment anthem. Many even believe it to be a direct counterpart to “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion due to it’s empowering lyrics. What this perspective fails to acknowledge is that, in empowering men, the lyrics still perpetuate misogynistic ideas towards the female audience. Why should it be empowering for men to call women “thottys” and only acknowledge them sexually? This is the question that many critics have in terms of “Way 2 Sexy,” as well as many of Drake’s existing music.
“U.N.I.T.Y (Who You Calling A Bitch?)” — Queen Latifah (1993)
“U.N.I.T.Y” by Queen Latifah is a perfect example of a woman directly questioning the way that the genre of hip hop chooses to portray them. Queen Latifah also addresses the blatant disrespect women are shown in society, the harassment and violence they are often met with. The single alone was a historical moment for hip hop. By calling out misogyny within the genre, Latifah ushered in a new generation of female rappers who would go forward to change the genre forever. By being rap’s first feminist and changing the genre for the better, Queen Latifah has rightfully earned the title “Queen of Rap.”
Crooked Smile — J. Cole ft. TLC (2013)
J. Cole is known to be a socially conscious rapper within today’s generation. He often writes songs with deeper meanings that inform and empower his audience, “Crooked Smile” being no exception. Within the song, J. Cole turns away from the misogyny and sexism we often see within the genre by telling women not to focus so much on their flaws and imperfections. He is quoted to say that the song is about taking ownership and embracing their flaws instead. This is a stark difference from how women are often portrayed and allows them to see themselves in a positive life instead of being belittled to nothing more than a stereotype and body parts.
“WAP” — Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion (2020)
Though controversial in its explicitness, “WAP” is thought to be a track of female empowerment in the sense that it flips the script on how men have portrayed women through the genre of hip hop for years. The only difference now is that two powerful women in the genre direct the insinuations themselves. The video and lyrics are racy and suggestive, but all in all capture women claiming their sexuality for themselves, raising the question as to why it’s okay for a man to make music about his sexual endeavors, but not for a woman to do the same. It isn’t the first time that this double standard has shown its face, since the same distaste was seen with rapper Lil’ Kim. She was known for being overtly sexual, just as much as the men around her, and yet she was the one demonized, simply because she was a woman. Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B are both female artists who are unapologetically sexual and were not afraid to say so within the song. If a man can do it, why can’t a woman?
Misogyny and sexism have been prevalent within the genre of hip hop for quite some time. Even with the passing years and numerous female rappers commanding a place within the genre, blatant disrespect towards women still exists — in the lyrics and in the rap industry itself. As a woman who personally enjoys the genre, it is disheartening to know that many of the artists I listen to carelessly perpetuate stereotypes. They dismiss the harmful messages and behaviors that their female listeners are met with. Why do so many men in rap still feel it is okay to portray woman in such a negative light? Is it something that we have normalized within our music, or does it say more about how society truly views women? Today, the social — and political — climate is not at all kind to women. Misogynistic ideals run rampant and are reflected by many in society, even by some in high power. It has been like this for years, and I believe explains why it isn’t so heavily questioned in music. Why would a casual listener question a perspective of women in hip hop when it is reflected in so many other facets of their life? It may be a large leap to attempt and tackle women’s rights issues all together, but I believe a good start can be made within the context of popular music. Female artists, as well as male artists, whose views align with the fair treatment of women can change the messages and behaviors. Hip hop is not a stagnant genre and is certainly capable of change. By supporting the artists who push for that change, I think that we may one day achieve a genre that is respectful to men and women all together.
- “Atoning For Hip-Hop’s History of Misogyny: From Dr. Dre to Kanye West.” Daily Beast, 30 Aug. 2015. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A430102558/STND?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=d0674af2. Accessed 5 Mar. 2022.
- Cardi B. “Cardi B — WAP Feat. Megan Thee Stallion [Official Music Video].” YouTube, 6 Aug. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsm4poTWjMs.
- Christopher-Byrd, Emerald L. “Feminism and Hip Hop.” St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2018, pp. 166–170. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3679700083/GVRL?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=bd948ca9. Accessed 2 Mar. 2022.
- D, Davey. “The Hip-Hop Community Works to Address Misogyny Issues.” Rap and Hip-Hop, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current Controversies. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010870218/OVIC?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=6b143fca. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “Oakland’s Townhall on Misogyny, Teen Violence & the Influence of Rap Music w/ Too Short,” www.daveyd.com, 15 Mar. 2012.
- DrakeVEVO. “Drake — Way 2 Sexy (Audio) Ft. Future, Young Thug.” YouTube, 3 Sept. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2PWFDB4ZU.
- JColeVEVO. “J. Cole — Crooked Smile (Video) Ft. TLC.” YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzzMOMkjm8A.
- KanyeWestVEVO. “Kanye West — Gold Digger Ft. Jamie Foxx.” YouTube, 16 June 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vwNcNOTVzY.
- Merriday, Jodi, MA,M.S.C., P.H.D. (2013). Hip Hop Herstory: Women In Hip Hop Cultural Production And Music From Margins To Equity. Scarborough: National Association of African American Studies. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/conference-papers-proceedings/hip-hop-herstory-women-cultural-production-music/docview/1498454817/se-2?accountid=3859
- Phillips, Layli, et al. “Women Can Be Empowered by Rap Music.” Rap Music and Culture, edited by Kate Burns, Greenhaven Press, 2008. Current Controversies. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010531219/OVIC?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=e4381443. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “Oppositional Consciousness Within and Oppositional Realm: The Case of Feminism and Womanism in Rap and Hip Hop, 1976–2004,” Journal of African American History, vol. 90, no. 3, summer 2005, pp. 254–260.
- QueenLatifahVEVO. “Queen Latifah — U.N.I.T.Y. (Official Music Video).” YouTube, 7 Oct. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o.
- Sharpley-Whiting, Tracy. “Rap Music Objectifies, Degrades, and Exploits Black Women.” Rap and Hip-Hop, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current Controversies. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010870215/OVIC?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=88b0d0dd. Accessed 5 Mar. 2022. Originally published as “From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images,” 2007.
- Tatum, Beverly Daniel. “HIP-HOP CULTURE: Wake-up call for black women.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA], 24 Oct. 2005, p. A11. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137871202/STND?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4d0b95e2. Accessed 2 Mar. 2022.
- Williams, Maxwell. “Misogyny in Rap.” St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2018, pp. 297–301. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3679700140/GVRL?u=mcc_chandler&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=1c33be0d. Accessed 2 Mar. 2022.
