Hip Hop has been heavily scrutinized since it became popular, one main reason being the depiction and treatment of women that is displayed in rap songs. However, most people do not realize that many talented women were made famous and known by male rappers who saw their talent and signed them to labels. For example, Christopher Wallace (Biggie), signed rapper Kimberly Jones (Lil Kim) to his label and the both of them produced records together for years. Biggie had appeared on several of Kim’s songs and Vice Versa. Also, rappers Nas, AZ, and Foxy Brown all got their starts in the rap group The Firm, Brown being the only female. And now, especially, women have a heavy influence and rap. Rappers such as Nikki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, and Azalea Banks are not only top selling female rappers, but they are top selling rappers in general. Especially Nikki Minaj, who has been a staple in music for about 8 years now. Though lyrics in rap songs would suggest otherwise, females are actually quite respected in the rap community.
It is certainly cool to see successful female rappers, such as Nicki Minaj, in what is usually viewed as a male-dominated genre. But you mentioned that what the lyrics in rap songs are suggesting is opposite of respect for women. Do you think this will change as the public’s attitudes grow increasingly more pro-women? Is it okay for the lyrics to be disrespectful or diminishing if female rappers are treated well overall?
Hi Maria! I think that there are a few artists out there who are starting to move away from such comments about women in their songs. However, many hip hop artists will say that their lyrics are a manifestation of their environment, and that they use such harsh language because they grew up around that sort of atmosphere. In fact, many legendary hip hop artists such as Tupac weren’t actually ever real “thugs,” but instead they grew up around people who were and so they deliver that lifestyle to the public. Finally, I don’t think it is really okay for people to make such comments about women no matter who they are, but at the end of the day I think it is important to keep in mind a rapper’s intentions when they make such comments. Thank you for commenting!