Women (miss)represented
The streets of NYC in the 1970s were covered in culture that evolved into hip hop. Block parties had DJs spinning turntables and black youth dancing, singing, rapping, and starting to create a culture that would grow and impact the world. A genre of music that can be inspiring, moving, creative, inventive, and wonderfully powerful. Movements take flight within the hip hop culture and change is made. WHATS THE PROBLEM THEN?
Of course everyone has a problem with everything BUT some (a lot) of the message in hip hop music is about what aspects of women matter and reduces them to their bodies and sex appeal. This idea was present in the VERY first credited hip hop single that was ever released. Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang: “Say if a girl start actin’ up then you take her friend” as if women are interchangeable. Some other phrases in the song: “Foxy Ladies”and “Pretty Girls” because what is a women if she isn’t stereotypically attractive? Also within this song “The women fight for my delight” so obviously this guy is AMAZING in bed. The main message of this song was to party and have a good time which is a huge part of youth culture. But having these messages of women’s “importance” present from the beginning laid them into the foundation of hip hop.
This song is more than just these lyrics. There is more to it that makes it a legendary and important song in history. And it gave hip hop the kick it needed to get the ball rolling. This song was officially released in 1979, nine years after block parties began in the city but 28 years ago from today. Today males still dominate the hip hop industry and still brag about their bitches, money, and game. Yes, talking about females as sexual objects is part of hip hop and no one should take that away. Staying true to the culture isn’t the issue here, but when there are more known male artists degrading female bodies than known female artists in the industry, well..there is the problem.
The solution? I have no idea. For now Lets explore the hip hop industry through the music. Take a closer listen to all those rap songs we love to party to and not just criticizes the rapper for certain overly inappropriate and degrading lines but criticize ourselves for blindly listening. There are positives within this negative though, don’t forget to celebrate female artists that are breaking into the industry and giving women a voice.
