The article “Hip-Hop Betrayal of Black Women” was written by Jennifer McLune and appeared in Z magazine Online in the July 2006 issue. McLune argues that sexism in hip-hop’s culture is a big part and has helped make the industry what it is today. This article can be divided into 5 different sections. In the first section, she talks about Kevin Powell and how he writes how men talk about women in hip-hop. McLune goes on to say that even wealthy white boys talked about African American women in their songs, yet its okay with society. The second section she gives examples of entertainers that…
There is no set “rules” for Hip-Hop, each cultural background and differences can bring their own take on Hip-Hop and at the end of the day, this is the greatest strength Hip-Hop has to offer. Each person’s interpretation on Hip-Hop is what makes it art. This is showed when Schloss states that, “Hip Hops strength lies precisely in the diversity of its concept and practices” (7). Schloss believes that B-Boying has been mainly overlooked in scholarship terms is due to it being so culturally dependant. There is no set rules or theory that holds true to really understand B-Boys or B-Gils culture.…
After I watched “Shut Up and Give Me Your Bone Marrow” I have realized that, Hip hop beyond beats & rhymes provides a fascinating examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. Director Byron Hurt, former star college quarterback, longtime hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a loving critique of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. Critically acclaimed for its fearless engagement with issues of race, gender violence, and the corporate exploitation of youth culture.…
Mclune goes on to say that artists should embody respect between genders through their music. She argues that Black female rappers are just as much to blame as their male peers. She encourages women to speak in a collective voice, as to defend themselves, instead of being “hyper feminine and hyper sexual to please men.” (McLune 215)…
(3 McLune). Powell’s article seems to reveal the fact that poverty is the reason for sexism and it should be excused because of it. Knowing that wealthy white boys can execute the same hateful lyrics as poor black boys, gives Jennifer the idea that his reasons are just ridiculous. The faculties of the record labels are not the only ones to blame in this situation. As artist and role models to our society they should take more responsibility in their music as well as their actions and what they represent. Many artists appear to only care about their own mainstream acceptance…
Although Morgan addresses the negatives to hip-hop music and rap, she also highlights what she appreciates and admires about it. The things she values in this style of music is that it offers a rare opportunity for black men to voice their despair, and she values the fact that its popularity provides a channel for a strong voice commenting on their communities. Morgan argues that listeners should hear these sexist and angry lyrics as a sign that large-scale changes that are necessary in the opportunities available to black men.…
The reason that Morgan argues for Black women to support hip-hop is that Morgan sees hip-hop as "instrumental in exposing black men's pain, [and] it brings the healing sistas need right to the surface" (2000: 77). Hip-hop exposes the sexist beliefs that some Black men have about Black women, and it exposes the fact that there are Black women that enforce those sexist beliefs that Black men have. Morgan argues that Black male rappers are not at fault when they are angry at Black women who are interested in them only for their money. Black men do not create these images of Black women from thin air, but from their lived experiences. As a Black feminist, Morgan is arguing that we must listen to Black men's expression of their experiences because they are valid experiences and Black men are experts on their experiences.…
Hip Hop as a musical genre has gone through much change not only in the content of the music, but the message conveyed and how many would say it has in some ways defined black culture in the last 20 years. A significant amount of hip hop music nowadays is geared towards painting this unrealistic image of hyper-materialism, sexism, and violence that ultimately assists in dragging black culture down, and the people as a whole. You look at hip hop artists like 50 Cent and Lil Wayne who is reinforcing this thuggish persona, making music revolved around money and drugs and it paints a bleak picture for young blacks. These young impressionable youth view this way of life as the “norm”, and the ghetto pathology seen as an authentic part of black culture, even though it does nothing more than demean a multitude of black people.…
A part of the learned mainstream American culture is sexism and misogyny. Hip-hop culture is frequently condemned for its misogynistic exploitation of women, but this misogyny has its roots in the culture in which we live. Hip-hop but can be explored and used as a valuable tool in examining gender relations. It brings to surface the issues that face many young people, such as discrimination, peer relations, and self-worth, that can be considered in order to bring about change in the misogynistic aspects of hip-hop culture and American culture, in general. For young people that do not hold sexist ideals, mainstream hip-hop may influence them to do so…
The presence of multiple women is essential to masculinity in the military and in Hip Hop and the absence of them will raise questions about a man's sexuality. According to historian George Chauncey in the article “Manhood in America”, “Middle-class men increasingly conceived of their sexuality- their heterosexuality or exclusive desire for women are one of the hallmarks of a real man.” (100). The ability to be a claim and conquer as many women as possible is the pinnacle of being a man. To be a gay man was abnormal and unnatural. Homosexuality threatens to destroy manhood and the what it meant to be a man. In the military, it was especially damaging to be gay or suspected of being gay because up until the present it was assumed that gay men were on a mission to turn every straight “real” man gay. This assumption was, of course, false but in predominantly male fields as Hip Hop and the military, in addition to the powerful influence of group think and mob mentally straight men essentially feared for the gay men and fear easily became hated. Even men who were perceived as acting feminine were ostracized. Both Military men historically and Hip Hop men today believed that to prove their manhood and make a clear distinction between them and the “other”, the Military man and the Hip Hop was and is to flaunt sexual prowess and dominance over women. This meant frequenting brothels, whorehouses, strip club, wherever women were in abundance and were sexual objects. In Hip Hop, there has always been deeply rooted discrimination against that has not changed since the birth of Hip Hop. Hip Hop's homophobia makes being gay or being suspected of being gay is career damaging. In the event that a male artist is confirmed to a homosexual, it is career and social suicide. As a result, male rappers keep their sexuality a secret and keep a woman around to be their “beard” or female companion to keep up public…
However, if black men hurt women through male violence, then they should save themselves and the race by resisting. Many progressive women realize they should criticize the disadvantages of hip-hop rather than keep silence. They also find the women who love hip-hop can become great leaders that create terms to protect black women from attack. However, the public debates on hip-hop always keep black women out of the conversation who are supposed to be the most powerful individuals to object the hip-hop. If normal people comment too much on hip-hop, then others will think they are anti-hip hop. Moreover, if these people comment on aspects other than sexism in hip-hop, it will make those artists who insulate women become more powerful. Progressive black feminist should be the central of the debate, and then the public will focus on sexism and take steps to protect black women. As many women are ignored in the hip-hop war, they decide to make change to gain extensive attention. For example, many women play in clubs until they hear songs that are very offensive, and then they will leave at the same time. This strategy is very useful to eliminate sexism because it can attract more women to join in and gain attentions from others in the club. And then others will find something is wrong and they will realize those offensive songs are bad. Public debates always turn things into a “blame and explain” situation where one group blame and the other side explain, but it does not solve the sexism in the hip-hop. Thus, when talking about hip-hop, people should put black women in the central of the debate because these women have the strongest power to depict how hip-hop influences them, and then the public will focus on how to free these women from…
This article, written by Shanara R. Reid, discusses the over-sexualization of women in rap/hip hop songs and music videos, and the possible social causes of this. It has become apparent nowadays that women are heavily degraded in all kinds of media in order to appeal to the male viewing audience. Scantily clad women partaking in provocative dance routines and actions has become a norm of music videos. Machismo ideals that stress the extreme superiority of men over women and encourage the representation of women almost as an item prevail among lyrics. African-American women are especially susceptible to this kind of treatment, and many, including the author of this journal article, believe that more should be done by these women to protect the good name of their own class of people.…
In James McBride article “Hip Hop Planet”, he introduces the reader to many issues that are affecting society, including violence, social class, and racism. McBride ensures that he includes hip-hop’s history, in order to explain that the musical genre began as an attempt to avoid or prevent teen gang involvement. Additionally, social class is present in hip hop culture because many of the artist's success determined by the resources that they have when beginning their career as a DJ. Lastly, race is revealed to play a large role in hip hop culture due to the fact that many rappers include lyrics about racial injustices, as well as tension between people of different cultures. Although McBride introduces different arguments throughout his essay,…
Hip Hop has gotten too hard core, it’s only about misogynist and materialism. Back in the day rappers had more to talk about than guns, money, jewels, cars and women. In today’s Hip Hop, it glorifies the ghetto, gangs, guns, money and jewelry which reinforces the tradition of the black stereotypes. Gangster rap is described as the angriest type of rap music where it glamorizes sex and violence. N.W.A was one of the most controversial rap groups in the world of hip hop who are known as the creators of “gansta rap”. The group was an influential force in the Hip-Hop culture because of their harsh music which questioned the government and the police. In all Hip-Hop music video you will always see a female flaunting her assets. These women are often called…
Female artists in hip hop put forth the idea of self-worth, independence, and the rejection of women being more than objects to be depreciated. Rap music lacked the female perspective but never seemed to come up short in the objectifying of woman and their bodies. That’s what the artists looked to change, even though they all had different types and purposes of their music as the years began to progress to the present era of hip hop.…