For years now, women-especially African-American women, have had a HUGE impact in Hip-Hop whether it's from the lyrics or in the music videos. Controversy of belittling women in Hip-Hop have skyrocketed when the terms like "Bitch" and "Hoe" came into play.
There used to be a time when women were looked up to by rappers, they were glorified. Females barely showed skin and lyrics were about fantasies and admiration of females. These were the times where women were at their peak. Beauty was emphasized not only by looks, but also personality. One example of this kind of uplifting music is LL Cool J's "Around the Way Girl" music video.
When women became more prevalent in music videos, they added the aspect of "dirty dancing" "booty shaking" and other moves. This became more common, but frowned upon as well.
NO, MILEY DID NOT INVENT "TWERKING"!!!!!
This is a video from the 90's Soul Train Show
Soul Train was a famous television show that showcased new fashion and danced moves of that era.
Hip-Hop has been frowned upon by women when such lyrics have been made about them, saying that rappers in Hip-Hop mistreat the women that birthed them.
But I don't understand! Why do women have such a problem with Hip-Hop when women THEMSELVES portray that image on t.v.?
Yes, any director will tell you to shake your ass but I thought we lived in America-the land of the free?
Women have every right to say no to certain things, but why not say no to certain images that will reflect oneself?
A huge example from the Hip-Hop World is Karrine Stephens. Stephens is a well known Hip-Hop video model who has changed the game of women in music videos. She gained a very nasty name for herself and was happy just to have her name in the media, no matter if it was good or bad.
Once praising the name "Super Head", she now despise it and hates when people calls her it now.I guess Ms. Stephens got tired of this name because she made a "tell-all" book to get back at those who "mistreated" her character. "Confession of a Video Vixen" made headlines in the media but even though she uses this book to get back at rappers, it shows proof of how nasty she really was and how she mistreated HERSELF, which made the situation worse in my opinion.
I used to pity women in Hip-Hop being that I am African-American and these video "models" set a stereotype of myself, but I came to realize that they are human, they are going to do whatever they want for the attention that come with it. I just disagree on women bashing rappers for portraying them that way. Is it REALLY the men demising women in Hip-Hop, or do the women set the tone for themselves?
Until women as a whole get their act together, rapper's will continue to want "Big Booty Hoe's" for their birthday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmb9hfzK5M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjb3j2dHTbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCEuQ3u7mJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_GlRZCpGxY
I really enjoyed reading your post! You had very good examples throughout the blog. I really appreciated the fact that you mentioned "Supahead." I knew a little about her before reading your blog, but after watching the video, I feel like I have a better understanding of what all she did.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was very good. I really enjoyed reading this. All of these examples proved your point exactly. I agree that women are portrayed badly in hip-hop, but at the same time women should use their voice and demand respect when it comes to them showing off their stuff.
ReplyDeleteI found the last picture ridiculously funny but anyway I have always found the fascination that women today can be so quick and easy to scream about how rappers and other artists in the music industry are degrading them yet they are the very same individuals in the club shaking their booties to these defiling songs. I hope that women will stop shaking their butts to these songs and start shaking their heads at the disrespect these songs portray on women. The times of what is popular in music certainly has changed and it's sad to see that influential women rappers like nicki minaj will say hoe and bitch in their music. We have a long way to go in this world. Great blog and great points.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with you that women or often presented as sex objects in videos, I'm not sure if so much of the blame lies with them. These gangsta rap videos are likely mostly consumed by men and created by men, meaning that presenting women as sex objects meets the wants of the audience. The model in the video will likely do whatever the director asks for the money because she is likely attempting to make something of herself like the rapper in the video. I just don't think you can really blame women for society sexualizing their existence.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with what you said for most of this blog. It is a big topic today, the way a woman is portrayed in music videos. Of course over the years we see it more and more that women are seen in the music videos. In my opinion I'm not sure if there is going to be much change in the future, but with more women rappers today it's possible we will see one.
ReplyDeleteI agree that in Hip Hop women are portrayed as sex symbols. However at the same time female rappers seem to condone it, making it acceptional as they sell themselves sexually in their music like Nicki Minaj Trina and Lil Kim. I don't have pity for the video vixen in hip hop videos because they know exactly what they were paid to do, be sexy, heighten the video. Although rappers disrespect women , I don't consider it as an insult because it's entertainment and under a record label they are order to produce what sells even if it means objectifying and disrespecting women.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you pointed out female roles in other parts of the industry and how cultural things, like Soul Train, effected it. I know a lot of female supporters of hip hop realize there is discrimination but do not feel as if it is applied or directed to them, just other "hoes" and only for the camera.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post I liked the way that you showed that women were portrayed differently in hip-hop. I also liked how you included the example of the video girl because everyone sees these women in hip-hop videos but no one really knows the reality behind that business.
ReplyDeleteVery funny post! The meme at the end just made it all better. I like the tip drill song but yes it is a little vulgar. And I also heard a group of women at a college removed Nelly as their sponsor due to the indignity he lowered women to, in such a video as this.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree with what you're saying. Women in hip hop kind of put the way they are treated on themselves. If women want to be more respected in hip hop, then women should make a change for the better. And men should be more willing to treat women with more respect.
ReplyDeleteI thin this post proves a good point. Women in hip hop are often seen as sex objects and in certain cases they do bring it on themselves. They are the ones that audition for the music videos or they are the ones that are writing, singing, and putting out the songs. It is their choice as to what they put out to the public.
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