Say My Name Analysis

“Say My Name” is a documentary by Nirit Peled. The film was shot in multiple locations such as Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, London, New York and L.A. In New York, there were such artists as Sparky Dee, Monie Love, Roxanne Shante, Queen Latifa and Chocolate Thai. Also there were immigrants to New York from other countries like Trinie from Trinidad. MCs from Detroit, Canada and Atlanta. Lastly in London, there was Estelle with Neo-Soul. There were multiple sub-genres shown in the films like freestyle rap, gangster rap, hardcore rap and conscious rap.
Hip Hop serves a sense of releif and release for some artists mostly for Miz Korona. In the film, ‘Say My Name” the Detroit rapper Miz Korona describes when she was only 15 years old;
she got hit really badly by a guy of her crew when she began getting more attention from the industry. The only way she knew how to express herself was through hip hop rap. She didn’t know how else to get it off her chest and music was her therapy. Her own mother found out about the rape when she heard Miz Korona track which was years after the incident. Mystic, explained how she has a responsibility to tell that story in an effort to show many of hip-hop’s female fans that they have the strength to keep trying and working through any struggles I life. In the article Hip Hop feminism, Henry says “A feminist believed that there was sexism in society, wanted to change and worked toward change. Either wrote, spoke, or behaved in a way that was pro-woman, in that she supported situations (organizations) that were trying to better the lives of women” (Henry 2010, pg148.) The quote relates with what Miz Korona was saying in the film. To help other women with their struggles you have to talk about your and show them that you can get passed any situation/problem that comes your way. As Jean Grae suggest during Say My Name’s closing montage, “The most beautiful music comes from pain and struggles.”

The documentary “Say My Name” is effective in many crucial ways.
Not knowing much about the history of Hip-hop mostly about female hip hop artists the documentary discussed the industry where anybody can understand. The most effective portion of the film is how Peled catures how each artist has sacrificed multiple things just to be accepted and be valued as lyricists by their male peers. The brilliant lyrical skills by these artists do more to address the boundaries that Hip hop culture imposes on women. Henry talks about how even though some women have only been seen as the eye candy artists there are some are artists who have proved through their lyrics challenging the male artists who degrade the women. “ hip-hop has also included the voices of artists such as Queen Latifah, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, Missy Elliot, T.L.C., MC Lyte, and others, who challenge the predominant sexist messages of their male counterparts in the industry with empowering lyrics” (Henry 2010, pg140). Juggling motherhood, personal addictions, sexism the tough women represented in “Say My Name” know what they face from the industry. These women don’t see themselves as victims but more than that they go up against the male-centric normality that dominates the hip-hop history. The film shows that no matter where you’re from or how successful you are, female artists in hip-hop will always stick together and be one. In the Article Hip Hop feminism Henry explained because of certain female artists who made their
voices hear through their music the trend went on and to this day there are artists who are following the same footsteps and standing up for their fellow hip hop female artists. “Because of the work of these groundbreaking artists, several other female hip-hop artists, including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Eve, Foxy Brown, Lil’ Kim, M.I.A., Trina, and Tweet, have used their artistic prowess to challenge societal stereotypes of women and push against the heterosexist foundation of the industry” (Henry 2010, pg140).