GRSJ224/Hip Hop and Misogyny

There have been plenty of critiques on the ways in which hip hop music has targeted women, specifically those of colour, in it’s lyrics, music videos, and culture. Despite each genre of music surely having it’s own instances of conflict with the representation of women, due to it’s popularity and complex context - hip hop often gets singled out. Sexualization, commodification, and degrading lyrics are all extremely prevalent issues in mainstream hip hop music and culture. While women play such an integral part of what makes up rap music, they never seem to be represented in a positive light.

Cases of Misogyny

Gangsta Rap and Early 90’s Hip Hop

Gangster or gangsta rap is a sub-genre of hip hop music that focuses on illustrating the rough lifestyles of inner city gangsters. Most songs within this realm of hip hop focus on themes such as: gangs (bloods/crips), shootings, drug deals, drug use, sex, women, alcohol, violence, police run ins, etc. It became increasingly popular in the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s with artists such as Ice-T and groups like N.W.A warranting world wide attention.

Scene taken out of the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton

The group, N.W.A, drew a lot of attention from their explicit lyrics and violent behaviours that were deeply rooted in misogyny. Hit songs entitled “A B*tch Iz a B*tch,” include lines that attribute to hitting women when they cross you. Other songs make reference to using women for sex, as well as the repetitive use of the derogatory words “b*tch” and “h*”.

Additionally, group member Dr. Dre became the centre of over five scandals that involved violence against women. Since, all women have come forward to speak about the abuse they suffered at his hands. The attention to the content of their music and mentality of their members has been brought up again recently following the release of the 2015 movie, Straight Outta Compton, based on the group. The film seems to leave out all instances of abuse. In fact, the only roles played by women were the characters of mothers, girlfriends, and groupies. Today, gangsta rap is still quite popular despite the fact it continues to objectify and degrade women.

Mainstream Rap

As mentioned, while gangster rap is still quite common, other genres have moved into the spotlight. Popular artists like Kanye West and Drake don't focus on the hood experience, but rather the finer things in life that have come with their wealth and success. Though not as inherently violent and raw, these artists still contribute to the sexist mentality that surrounds hip hop music.

In 2010, Kanye West’s music video for the hit single “Monster,” was leaked. Though the video was never officially published and was retracted quickly, it caused a lot of controversy. The video features West alongside dozens of dead, mutilated white women. The fetishization and sexualization of these women is contrasted by the presence of demonized women of colour. In an online video, feminist activist Anita Sarkeesian claims “monster not only reduces women to sexual objects and perpetuates racist stereotypes, but it actually fetishizes the aspects of women that don’t even require us to be physically alive.” Thus proving to be questionably one of the most graphic indications of the misogyny entrenched within hip hop culture.

Rick Ross’s 2013 single “U.O.E.N.O” also caused great uproar and warranted an apology from the artist for the line “put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” Molly, being a reference to popular drug MDMA. The artist was soon after attacked for glamorizing and encouraging the act of rape.

This image, taken from Minaj's risqué "Anaconda" video which details her sexual encounters with various different men.

While only two examples are mentioned, countless other rap anthems have been targeted over the years for perpetuating sexist discourse.

Contribution of Female Rap Artists

Hip hop icons like Lauryn Hill have made a conscious effort to go against the trend and oppose misogyny by illustrating their independence and strength with empowering lyrics and strong messages. While others, like Beyonce and Rihanna have taken it upon themselves to use the sexualized discourse surrounding women in hip hop music to liberate themselves and their music. Rapper and artist, Nicki Minaj for example, has taken on an overtly sexualized persona in her music. Though she may claim to be using her oppression as a means of liberation, by playing into the sexualized images of women produced by the industry she is only supporting these tropes. In contrast, artists like Yung M.A have steered away from following sexualized, feminine, gender roles at all. However, by portraying an overtly masculine personality, she also encourages the sexualized tropes so prevalent in hip hop.

Why Hip Hop?

Misogyny is Everywhere

Pictured is an example of provocative, sexualized advertisements from designer Tom Ford

Obviously it is not just hip-hop music that embodies misogynic themes. The misrepresentation of women is rampant in society. Take for example advertisements that commodify women and sexualize them in order to sell products. However, this has no differences to the way’s in which Michael Jeffries claims “women's bodies are constantly sexualized and commoditized by the promotional machinery of both independent and corporate hip hop producers.” By doing the commodifying in a seemingly trendy and refined way companies get away with their objectification as being seen as less outrageous.

Hip Hop’s Raw Roots

On the contrary, because a large majority of hip hop artists aim to take a gritty, raw, and realistic approach to their music production, the sexist messages they send out come across much harsher. However, hip hop has always been a controversial genre for this same reason. Being rooted within the history of Black Americans, hip hop has always been an integral outreach for marginalized communities. Hip hop music has used it’s real, ‘in the streets’ approach to challenge politics, police violence, racism, and other systemic issues that those communities have been plagued by. While the treatment of women within hip hop music cannot be commended it can serve an indicator of where our society is at. If the perception of women, as illustrated by hip hop music, is realistic to listeners and producers then it can become a point of intervention into the misogyny in today’s society.

See Also

• Hip Hop Culture
• Misogyny in Rap Music
• Hip Hop Model