Thoughts on Caste and Hypocrisy in Pointing out Misogyny in Hip Hop (guest blogger, Sarafina Conner)

Thoughts on Caste and Hypocrisy in Pointing out Misogyny in Hip Hop

Over the last week, I have been watching as friends and colleagues have weighed in on the debate on misogyny in hip hop as expressed most recently in an interview of the rapper Too Short in the magazine XXL. When one of my oldest and dearest friends shared her thoughts on this incident, I knew I had to share. These are not new ideas. She—from her multiple perspectives as mother, teacher and friend—routinely rails against the dehumanization of black women in the lyrics and imagery of hip hop and the casual way in which pornography and sex work (i.e. stripping) has crept into mainstream popular culture. She is one of my oldest friends and the first guest writer on my blog. Please read.

It’s Definitely Bigger than Too Short…and Hip Hop

I am not a writer. I don't blog. I am not one who engages in much scholarly or activist discourse. I am not even an activist. But I am a mother. I am a teacher. I am a student. And I am tired. I am tired of having to constantly re-program, re-sensitize, and remind. Cause that's what ya'll keep telling us Parents and Teachers to do, right? Everyday I debrief: he/she doesn't REALLY think women are bitches. he/she doesn't REALLY think people should be poppin bottles, pills, and coochies all day everyday. he/she doesn't REALLY mean that it's a good idea to go in the club and have sex with a stranger every weekend. no lovelies: he/she doesn't REALLY mean that it's cool to .... They ACTUALLY would all tell you to stay in school, go to college, graduate school, join the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and global change agents.

Yeah.

That's the ticket.

Frankly I don't know how 99% of the hip hop industry sleeps at night. Cause I can’t.

At this point there really is nothing new in forms of commentary, analysis, or critique to offer. We've talked about hip hop and it's state for far too long. Way before this Too Short / XXL business. If you honestly think that Too Short is some sort of anomaly you’re in denial. Whatever scathing indictments we offer of Too Short will NOT absolve us of the responsibility. Let’s be honest- Wu-Tang, Biggie, Tupac, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Common (yes. Common), Odd Future, Snoop, Dre, Eminem, Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Ludicrous, 50 Cent, Nas….I could go on and on and on posting lyrics by these and many other artists that are OVERTLY misogynistic and promote the absolute dehumanization of Black girls and women. I could post numerous hip hop videos from the past 15 years (some with cameos by “conscious mc’s”) that perpetuate the most vile images of women this side of the porn industry. So it’s troubling that people are trying to make Too Short the fall guy of hip hop. I repeat: blaming Too Short will not save your soul. Writing essays about his music, signing a petition to get the editor-in-chief fired, or going on Twitter and Facebook rants will not undo the damage of the cultural schizophrenia and bipolar disorder of hip hop.

Too Short does not exist in a vacuum. His critics, many who have long supported the misogyny when delivered by their favorite mc’s act as if he was able to maintain one of the longest careers in hip hop without being aided and abetted by legions of fans, industry folk, and bystanders. Yes bystanders. People who make comments like: “it’s the parents responsibility” or “balance in hip hop is good”. Bystanders like the “conscious” rap critics and artists who constantly disparage the state of mainstream hip hop but sing praises and pour accolades on Odd Future and Tyler the Creator because they’re “creative”. Those same critics are now saying that Too Short crossed the line. Really? So 106 and Park doesn’t cross the line daily? Hmm. In every single episode we see a live studio audience of teenagers- (aka young people) being encouraged to stay in school and make healthy positive decisions juxtaposed with music videos and performances that promote quite the opposite. 106 and Park disseminates it’s advice in the form of media images five days a week, and yet there is no public outcry or movement to get it pulled off the air. No public outcry. I haven’t heard the hosts be accused of “pedophilia” nor have I read where the guests’ performances have been labeled “crossing the line”. Why now is everyone so concerned about young people being ill-advised? Where is the consolidated internet storm over Kanye’s artist Big Sean and his # 5 Billboard classic Dance Ass (featuring the hip hop sensation and soon to be host of the Nickelodeon Kids Choice awards Nicki Minaj). Yes, I said KIDS CHOICE AWARDS.

#5 Dance Ass by Big Sean (featuring Nicki Minaj)

I’m st-stacking my paper my wallet look like a bible

I got girlies half naked that shit look like the grotto

How your waist anorexic and then your a$$ is colossal

Drop that a$$ make it boomerang

Take my belt off b*tch I’m Pootie Tang

Tippy tow tippy tay you gonna get a tip today

F*ck that you gonna get some d*ck today

I walk in with my crew and I’m breaking they necks

I’m looking all good I’m making her wet

They pay me respect they pay me in checks

And if she look good she pay me in sex

Bounce that a$$ it’s the roundest

You the best you deserve a crown b*tch

Right on that,

Nicki’s [Nicki Minaj] verse:

Wobble Dee Wobble wop wop Wobble wobbin'

Ass so phat All these bitches' pussies is throbbing.

Bad bitches, I'm your leader.

Phantom by the meter.

Somebody point me to the best ass eater!

Tell them puss* clean, I tell them puss* squeaky. Bitches give me brain cuz all them *****s geeky!

If he got a mandingo, then I buy him a dashiki and bust this puss* open in the islands of Wakiki

Kiss my ass, kiss my anus cuz its Finally Famous

And its finally soft, yea its finally soft.

I don't know man guess them ass shots wore off...

Stay poppin, google my ass!

Only time you on the net is when you google my ass!

You f*ckin' lil whores f*ckin' up my decors, couldn't get Michael Kors,

if you was f*ckin' Michael Kors!!

Big Sean, boy how big is you? Gimme all yo money and give me all yo residuals... Just slap it on my ass, ass, ass, ass, ass!

I imagine it’s because Too Short has not garnered the level and type of support as some of the other mainstream artists. Perhaps because he doesn’t attempt to cover his lyrics with super slick production and more radio friendly dance club music and r and b like hooks. He keeps it real, raw, and uncut. And for THAT I say he is much more sincere and authentic then so many of these other artists (and fans). He doesn’t perpetrate a fraud- speaking out on political issues and advocating for social change on one hand while undermining both on the other. Nope. No Too Short in Sprite, Best Buy, or fashion commercials. His fans are as genuine as he. They are loud, brazen, and proud to sing his praise. And I can’t be mad at them. My anger is reserved for those who have created and maintained this hegemony in hip hop. The hip hop elite embrace misogyny and materialism when it’s wearing suits, a fro-hawk, on a skateboard, showing up in Paris at high end fashion shows, art galleries, and Fortune 500 companies. Yet when it’s a little more hood, gully, grimy, and going straight to dvd instead of the box office folk are incensed and appalled. Yeah, I’m thinking hip hop is the site of a new caste system ya’ll. Does this all mean I co-sign or approve of Too Short's egregious decision to encourage young boys to sexually harass and abuse young girls? Of course not. So let me be CLEAR- what he said is reprehensible and unacceptable- but it would be a gross mistake if we resign our conversation to Too Short and our action to petitioning for the removal of the editor in chief at XXL. It's bigger than Too Short. And Hip Hop. We got work to do. Real work.

I'm living for a world where children are not sexualized or victimized by those who are supposed to be protecting, guiding, and loving them...

By Sarafina Connor