When Chickenheads Come To Roost By Joan Morgan

In 2014 Banks calls out calling out rapper Iggy Azalea for symbolizing white exploitation of black culture saying that she uses hip-hop as a costume that she is able to take on an off when she wants to, noting Azalea’s accent and lack of commentary on police brutality. Banks notes that Azealia’s recognition is part of a broader phenomenon in the United States of white appropriation of black musical production (74). Outside of the realm of cultural appropriation Banks’ has worked to re-appropriate derogatory terms usually directed at women, specifically the word “cunt”. Banks not only uses the term to validate the black female body, but to challenge heteronormative norms in hip-hop, and establish herself in a position of power. In addition to allowing her to appropriate a sexual gesture that rappers often used to express power over a romantic interest, Banks’s prominent and provocative use of the word “cunt” reclaims a word men commonly used to belittle women and rearticulates it as a figure of strength and

Serano contends that this belief system perpetuates the idea that men are entitled to women's bodies and attention, which is harmful to both men and women. Serano suggests that men need to consider their attitudes and actions toward women in the second half of her essay. She contends that men should acknowledge that women are unique beings with their own desires and agency. Instead of expecting sex or a relationship as payment for their positive deeds, Serano argues that men should focus on developing sincere connections with women. She also advises men to improve their communication skills and be receptive to female criticism.

Hip Hop in the late 1980s and 1990s was filled male-centric ideals with no space for women, emotions, or anything outside of the hard-hitting “thug-life” persona. (Williams) Women were more often than not objectified and sexualized according to the male perspective, and this can be seen and heard in a plethora of Hip Hop music videos and lyrics by artists such as Nelly and Dr. Dre. However, Lauryn Hill’s award winning debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was groundbreaking in that it provided a female voice and perspective in the predominantly mysogynistic Hip Hop culture. “Because of Ms. Hill’s lyrical dexterity coupled with her commercial appeal on Miseducation, she ultimately brought a brand new face to hip-hop: the face of a

Music all over the world has been shaping generations for many years now. The rock n roll of the 70’s and 80’s, pop and hip-hop of the 90’s and early 2000’s and finally, many different popular genres of the generation we now live in. Music provides a means of expression for all types of individuals. Some music even goes against the social norm and tries to bring attention to social injustices. The song “Crooked Smile” by rapper J. Cole tackles the issue of unrealistic expectations of women with the songs exceptional lyrics, broad metaphors, and positive tone.

However, critics are missing the point of the hip hop song’s message, because they are too focused on the violent and explicit lyrics of some rappers. Many people who believe that hip hop is too violent don’t see what the artist is trying to get across to his audience. In the song Love Yourz by J Cole, J Cole mentions materialistic items such as cars, money, homes, as well as women. He mentions these things, but he isn’t talking about those things in a negative way. He says there’s always going to be a bigger house or better car or newer clothes, but that doesn’t matter at all unless you can love yourself first, and be grateful of what you do have in the first place.

Many songs in the rap genre have an air of violence or sexism against women. Some of the artists who create this music sing about having sex with women, the bodies of women, violence against women, or the inability of a woman to be on her own. Women who listen to this music may find themselves believing what is said, and gaining an implicit bias against other women or men. They might begin to consider other women as ‘sluts,’ ‘whores,’ or ‘gold diggers,’ and men as ‘sexist pigs’ or ‘perverts.’ Also, when women believe what is said about them in any type of media, they may start to become somewhat like the women described in that media.

McBride begins his essay in high contrast to his intended purpose with an anecdotal discussion of his first encounters with Hip Hop music that inevitably represents black men as arrogant, aggressive, and poor. The introductory paragraph details McBride’s fear of his daughter marrying a black rapper that he describes as having “a mouthful of gold teeth, a do-rag on his head, muscles popping out of his arms, and a thug attitude” (McBride para. 1). This stereotypical description of a rapper, as well as the sense of fear McBride feels, contributes to his initial representation of black males as aggressive thugs that are unsuitable to become husbands.

In her essay “hip hop’s betrayal of black women,” Jennifer McLune implies that “(h)ip-hop owes its success to the ideology of women-hating” (193). She does not agree with Kevin Powell’s article that hip-hop does not mean to “offend” black women, but instead artists are only letting out their temper throughout their music. McLune feels infuriated that many artists in hip hop (including black men) rap about their community and downgrade their own women. In the hip-hop genre, sexism is mainly used, not only by black men but also by many other race hip-hop artists. Artists assume that women-hating in their rap songs will be accepted by women, but do not realize that it is affecting all women.

Hip Hop is seen as something inspiring, but most people see it as a way to speak out the truth about a problem. As in “Hip Hop planet” being able say the truth can sometimes worsen any situation because sometimes what we say can promote violence and whatever happens after is not in our control. The essay is about how hip hop has changed into speaking out the issues that need to be taken care of in order to maintain a proper society. McBride talked about how rappers use violent lyrics to degrade women and gays and because of this it shows how the music has evolved into something entirely different that no one would have ever expected to have changed. In James McBride's essay “Hip Hop Planet,” he argues that hip hop has a negative influence on American Culture despite people thinking of it as inspirational and how people live through different experiences in life despite of your race.

Recently, misogynistic behavior has been present in rap music. Misogyny in rap music has been more beneficial than harmful to men and women by providing them with opportunities for nourishment, allowing each of them to enhance their standards of living. Misogyny came from the general belief that women have to abide by and fulfill their roles. For a period of time, men were viewed as strong and dominant people. Women were seen as weak and incapable of handling a household.

¨If Hip Hop has the ability to corrupt minds, it also has the ability to uplift them.¨ Hip hop music, also called rap music, is a music genre developed in the United States by African Americans consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. Mainstream hip hop culture is also filled with misogyny and negative images of women. These artists are unaware that sexism has been forced onto them through the brainwashing from the media, which is controlled by a patriarchal society. Conversely, feminism is the belief that both genders should have equal power.

It has also shaped trends and fashion. Rap has also helped to portray black masculinity in many diffrent ways, from expressing strength, survival, and empowerment including the negatives of hypermasculinity emphasizing dominance and objectifying women. and supporting harmful stereotypes that contribute to the marginalization of women. While rap has a big positive impact on black likes, it also has many negatives.

However, rapping is usually considered to be done by men. Yet, Beyonce emphasizes that you do not have to be a man to rap. She also uses profanity and a rough image throughout this song. Because a woman plays an expressive role, “the position of the family member who provides emotional support and nurturing”, such behaviors are thought to be inappropriate

If you were to ask someone how music has changed their lives, most people would say they listen to music all the time. People listen to music at the gym, shopping, in the car almost everywhere. A lot will say that music is relatable, it’s a way of art, music has saved people’s lives. However, if you were to ask people about rap music specifically, they would probably say it’s violent, gory, or say they don’t like it. Did you know that since rap music became popular violent crimes have declined?

Even though we don’t think about the lyrics while singing the song, it is true that he undermines women based on the size of their butt. So what does this all mean to our young minds, has rap changed so much that we don’t just look at it as music, but do we look at it on how we should view women or the rest of the world? There are many popular rappers other than Sir Mix Alot that promote sex, drugs, and alcohol who are popular rappers today. Rap music can affect our youth in a negative way by portraying the use of drugs, alcohol, and violence and by giving women a sexual role in their music.