"Bitches Ain't Shit" - The Lyrical Content of Mainstream Hip Hop
Throughout the span of the past 20 years the common link to most chart topping hip hop songs has been the degrading lyrics. Fromlar artists like Nelly chanting "Girl it must be your ass 'cause it ain't your face, I need a tip drill" in the beginning of the millenium to Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz anthem "Get Low" succeeded by Too $hort's "Shake That Monkey", and recent songs like Left, Right by popular artist YG and "Throw Sum Mo" by Rae Sremmurd featuring Nicki Minaj and Yung Thug, the list of mainstream chart topping hip hop songs is endless.
there are 3 common themes
that run in popular mainstream rap songs in regards to women of color including the lyrics being
“1) women are commonly characterized as sex workers, particularly strippers and prostitutes,
2) women’s voice are used strategically in songs to “sell” particular images of women,
3) women are often valorized for their loyalty to male partners despite danger to themselves” (Hunter 170).
that run in popular mainstream rap songs in regards to women of color including the lyrics being
“1) women are commonly characterized as sex workers, particularly strippers and prostitutes,
2) women’s voice are used strategically in songs to “sell” particular images of women,
3) women are often valorized for their loyalty to male partners despite danger to themselves” (Hunter 170).
Lyrical Examples of Hunter's 3 Common Themes
Theme #1: women are commonly characterized as sex workers, particularly strippers and prostitutes,
"Get Low" by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz |
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Theme # 2: 2) women’s voice are used strategically in songs to “sell” particular images of women,
"Throw Sum Mo" by Rae Sremmurd featuring Nicki Minaj and Yung Thug |
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Theme # 3: 3) women are often valorized for their loyalty to male partners despite danger to themselves
"Trap Queen" by Fetty Wap |
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The lyrical content of a wealth of popular hip hop songs support Perry’s claim that Black men and women also perpetuate the negative stereotypes of Black women (35). A prime example of this is the common use of degrading lyrics by Black male rappers and some female rappers such as Minaj. These images are not just produced in the music, but are also supported by the music videos.