I mean, let’s face it: There’s one predominant woman rapper making all the major plays. Every other image you get of women in Hip Hop are the video vixens – overtly sexualized and drastically disrespected, or the distrustful, unimportant, there-for-decoration or personal sexual gratification hoe(s) that male rappers portray in their lyrics. Here and there you get your Lupe’s and “Bitch Bad” woman-empowering anthems. Still, why isn’t it the woman voice that’s delivering those important and essential messages?
Flipping through television on a Monday night doesn’t provide much insight to woman-centered pride. With shows that praise “gold diggers”, proud to be an ex-wife or baby momma, and “hoodrats”, fighting one another at whim, ignorant and untrusting of even each other, it seems the media means to perpetuate the negative images of women. That, coupled with many other historical factors, shows that there are still several issues at hand that have played into the degradation and overall lack of voice for and presence of women. When the female gender is dismissed in this manner, how does it translate into Hip Hop today and how does those constructions affect the woman rapper?
Chicago seems to be fairing fairly well on the woman rapper tip, though. A a few of the music moguls that I interviewed in Segregation Nation Pt. II were able to rattle off many names of Chi-Town women MCs when asked. They did not, however, mention ANY woman when originally asked to name rappers from different sides of the city. Are women not also MCs, simply because they are women? Again, here is a very present example of marginalization. How, then, do women MCs embrace femininity and display agency while still functioning within that marginalization and double standard?
The “Windy City Women” series means to answer the question: How do Chicago rappers of the female variety function within several contexts of oppression? Each week, a new woman rapper will be interviewed, celebrated, and asked critical questions to unpack and lay out the problem of marginalization and the lack of a defined presence. It’s clear that sexism, misogyny, patriarchy and male privilege are present, but do men (and, hell, even women) understand the woman MCs agenda? And how, then, do we work together to champion that agenda and celebrate the wonder women of Chicago for a more unified and unquestionable MidWest voice?
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One of the best articles I’ve read on FSD! Keep them coming! And Psalm One is an Amazing emcee!
Thank you, Prof. Pickle. So glad you enjoyed! Critical journalism is something I love deeply. Keep reading, ‘cuz they’ll keep coming. 🙂
Great read. I usually get bored with most music articles, but this one definitely kept my attention. Now I have some new rappers to check out! Peace
Word. Thanks for the reply, Righteous, and for reading the article! People don’t read, like REALLY read, anymore. We can all learn something new and change the way things are currently. Much love.
Great article. Great topic. Great questions and amazing person to be your first interview. Positive views and romodels are so neccesary. Especially in Chicago… Girls listen to Nicky Minaj and wanna fall in love and shake that ass ass ass ass ass. Instead of continuing education and expecting respect. Its like its easier for some to get treated as hoes bc their favorite rapper clearly calls them hoes herself. I enjoy listening to all kind of music. As long as it has great lyrics and meaning i can dig it, sadly the rappers i hear on the radio who are woman dont catch my attention much bc they sound like dudes as far as Putting woman down… Thats just dumb to me. But anywho sorry for the on and on-ness? Lol… Your article (s) catch my attention but not always able to comment! Love what you stand for and what you believe!!!!!!!