FEATURE:
A Very Long Rap Sheet
IN THIS PHOTO: Saweetie/PHOTO CREDIT: G L Askew II
Are Male Artists Leaving a Black Mark on the Genre?
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PERHAPS this issue and question…
IMAGE CREDIT: Christine Kim / Daily Nexus
requires deeper psychological probing, as I am not sure there is an easy answer. What I am referring to is how, decades after Rap was invented as a genre, it is still being marred by violence, disrespect, and offense. Perhaps not as homophobic and misogynistic as it has been in previous years, there is still a bad taste that is being left! I would not confine it to an entire genre, but it is male artists are the major culprits. This should not come as a shock. Look through the history of Rap, and how many women (compared to men) are producing the sort of shocking and downright aggressively nasty or purely disrespectful songs as their male counterparts?! Sure, female rappers have recorded diss tracks and taken a shot at a rival. They have to hold their own and retaliate. They can be sexually confident and boast about their talent, but that is all good! They are showing a confidence and command that sets them aside. I know – as you have to stipulate when applying something quite secret to men in terms of judgement – it is not all male artists that are guilty. Some of the best Rap albums of the year have not been defined by and awash with offensive lyrics. I am thinking of hugo by Loyle Carner and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar – which are, perhaps, two of the best albums of 2022 in any genre. What has provoked this line of thought is a remark by U.S. rapper Saweetie. One of the best rappers in the world, she said in a recent interview how male rappers are creating quite a toxic environment. Women are ruling because they are not building their music around disrespect, sexism and misogyny:
“Saweetie says that women are on top in hip-hop because of the prevalence of “violence and disrespect in male music.” The “Best Friend” rapper discussed the situation on the Bootleg Kev Podcast, earlier this week
“I mean, L.A. and other cities, it just goes to show that this is the reason why women is running rap and Hip Hop,” she said. “Because there’s just so much violence and disrespect in the male music.”
Afterward, she cited several artists who were on top only a few short years ago.
“You gotta think, like, remember, what was it, like ’16/’17,” Saweetie continued, before adding, “Remember when like YG, Tyga, Chris [Brown], Big Sean, TeeFlii was out? It was fun, party music.”
She just promoting her project lol but there is too much death and disrespect in mainstream hip-hop. That ain't nothing new, though. It does need to change nonetheless. Got kids looking up to artist talking about drugs and murder and disrespecting women and people in general and wonder why they're running around acting wild.
Later, she added: “It wasn’t like, ‘I’ma do this to you, and this, and this,’ you know? I feel like we gotta raise the vibration with the music and get back to having a good time. [I feel like there’s definitely a lack of] empathy and love, for real.”
Saweetie’s comments come shortly after the death of Migos rapper, Takeoff. The 28-year-old was shot and killed in Houston, earlier this month. Speaking with Complex about his passing, Saweetie recently described him as a “wonderful human being.”
“I mean wonderful, like hella dope,” she said of Takeoff. “My heart, my condolences go to his family. It’s just really surreal. I feel like Hip Hop is in a really eerie state right now.”
Saweetie is fresh off of the release of her latest project, The Single Life. The EP was released on November 18 and featured “Bo$$ Chick” as well as “P.U.S.S.Y.” The EP comes ahead of her highly-anticipated debut studio album, Pretty Bitch Music”.
Indeed, Saweetie’s forthcoming debut album, Pretty Bitch Music (which is out next year after some delay) is design to make people have fun and feel sexy. She released the escellent new E.P., THE SINGLE LIFE, last week. I think there has always been a split in Rap. Think back to the 1980s when there were more political groups like N.W.A. and Public Enemy and the more positive and less aggressive/political sounds of De La Soul. I think that there does seem to be a gender split. Not to lazily label, but the music from women does tend to be more empowering and positive. Whilst they have gained more footing and focus in a genre that has always had a problem with gender imbalance and sexism, I think there is still an attitude prevalent that sees them as inferior. That is not the case. I would agree with Saweetie that it is women ruling Rap! From Megan Thee Stallion and Bree Runway through to Little Simz and Rico Nasty, they are producing the finest and most memorable music. Newer names like Flo Milli, DreamDoll and Rubi Rose are showing that the future of Rap is very much going to be dominated by women. Still, in 2022, there is inequality in terms of women headlining Rap festivals and stages. They do not get the same sort of press attention as the men, though I think that this is starting to change. Misogyny and disrespect towards women has been inherited from Rap artists of the past and is (sadly) not going anywhere on the modern scene. Recently, Drake was called out for his misogyny and almost casual hatred and toxicity (though Varsity wrote a feature last year to question whether women have helped or hindered improve the issue of misogyny in Rap).
In 2020, this article explored misogyny in Hip-Hop and what women have to face. They looked at a case where U.S. rapper Megan Thee Stallion reported being shot multiple times. She suffered ridicule on social media for it. I am tying Hip-Hop with Rap as they are very similar in terms of their sound and cultures. Saweetie has been criticised for suggesting misogyny in Rap is a new thing. Not at all. Think back to artists like Eminem in the ‘90s and ‘00s (and now!), and it has been pretty unrelenting. Maybe it is more visible and widespread now because of social media and how misogynistic lyrics and messages can catch fire and spread rapidly. It is a fire that needs to be snuffed out. One would think that some male artists would speak out. Other genres are not as afflicted as Rap. Think about Pop, Folk or even Rock and Metal, and there is not the same degree of issue and controversy. Maybe male artists feel it is a code of conduct or club rule that their music is relevant and powerful if they attack women. It is not the entirety of the male Rap sphere, but I think many women are being highlighted and celebrated is because they offer a more refreshing, positivity and inclusive message. If they take jabs at their male peers, then it seems quite deserved! Why are bigger Rap artists not speaking out against this? I don’t think I have seen any male rappers make a statement that matches what Saweetie has recently said?! It does seem to be the same old story: women highlight the issue and not getting sufficient support or acknowledgment. I know that many male rappers are positive and have a respect for women, but there are far, far too many that are misogynists and are leaving a black mark on the genre. It is a great genre that should be a tool for good. From messages of body positivity and empowerment to address political and social ills, why use a platform so big to degrade women?! Saweetie’s comments, let’s hope, opens some high-profile eyes and something can be done. Men responsible for their misguided and plain vile lyrics need to take stock and be accountable. Saying that it does not apply to all male rappers is simply…
NOT good enough!