Perceptions Flashcards
Hip Hop groups that accept
- LGBTQIA
- Aboriginal
LGBTQIA
Artist Young M.A representing their identity
Frank Ocean song ‘good guy’, Macklemore’s song ‘same love’ and Lil Nas X
Aboriginal
Indigenous hip hop artists/groups such as Briggs, JK-47, Baker Boy, Kid Laroi, Barkaa
Using Indigenous languages in songs
Raising awareness about significant events
Hip Hop groups that accept
- Religious
- Parents
- Government
Religious
- Express religious ideas, Eg, Kanye - Jesus is King
- Christian rappers topping charts such as NF
Parents
- Parodies of hip hop songs
e.g. Bodak Yellow Parody to address the stereotypes of motherhood.
Government
- Turkmenistan leader to gain support and become more popular amongst the people
- “We must lead [rap] and direct it properly” → Putin (control rap and direct it to be what they want, to access youth and young people)
Hip Hop groups that accept
- Men
- Women
Men
- White men are primary consumers - hip hop is marketed specifically to them
- A masculine genre allowing male consumers to feel more superior
Women
- Rise of Female rappers: Cardi B + Queen Latifah + Nicki Minaj
- Hip Hop being a form of art for women to express their struggles
Hip Hop groups that reject
- LGBTQIA
- Aboriginal
LGBTQIA
- Slurs can be used that can degrade LGBTQ group
- Eminem’s use of homophobic slurs
- Drake’s song ‘Girls want girls’
(“Say that you a lesbian, girl, me too”)
Aboriginal
- Likely would not have as much access to hip hop generally due to lower SES (technological)
- Limited representation
- Australia rejects Aboriginal hip hop as the issues raised forces persons to confront history/inequality
Hip Hop groups that reject
- Religious
- Parents
- Government
Religious
- Lyrics and ‘lifestyle’ of artists being considered inappropriate
- An example of this would be Lil Nas X’s ‘Satan Shoes’
Parents
- Censorship of words (e.g. Kids Bop)
- Not liking the modern version of Hip Hop and wanting the traditional version
Government
- Believing it promotes violence e.g Australian Govt. & ONEFOUR concerts being restricted, monitored, cannot travel eg to NZ.
- Rap Against Dictatorship in Thailand
“This is a country… whose minister’s which belongs to a corpse… whose parliament is a playground of its soldiers .. in which a gun is pointed at your throat .. in which you are told that you are free, even though you are deprived of your right to vote … “
Hip Hop groups that reject
- Men
- Women
Men
- Can reject the rise of women in the industry
- Rejection of mythologies such as gang violence - DJ Kool Herc
Women
- Tyler the Creator demeaning women.
- Objectification of women by male rappers e.g ‘A
= Bitch Iz a Bitch’ by N.W.A “I once knew a bitch who got slapped
- Rejection from record labels as men were more profitable
Values + Perceptions Change
Overturning stereotypes
UNITY – Empowerment + women able to call out the system
Calling out towards homophobic slurs
Role model
- Young Thug wearing a dres
- Jay Z, Kanye West = Call out slurs towards homophobic slurs
- Lil Nas X = Openly gay + open about sexuality
Change for female representation
- Initially, Hip Hop used “bitches”, “hoes”, or “chickenheads”
- Empowerment through BritNigerian rapper Little Simz’s 2019 track ‘Venom’ from her third studio album ‘Grey Area’ is viral on Instagram = Venom tattoos = “Women” upside down.
Change for LGBTQIA representation
- Direct contrast to the initial hip hop attributes of a rapper as a hypermasculine, heteronormative figure who overcomes adversity to reach a position of prosperity.
- “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) Big Bank Hankm refers to Superman as a “fairy,” a derogatory term for gay men.
NOW: Gay artists such as Lil Nas X
How the popular culture constructs or deconstructs gender
2018 song “Boss Life” the rapper Offset, part of the multiplatinum-selling rap group Migos, rhymed “I do not vibe with queers”
- Casual use of a perceived anti-gay slurs
History of homophobia in rap music
“The Message” released in 1982 by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, included anti-gay slurs “f**” in a disparaging context
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, high profile rap groups such as N.W.A and DMX used pejorative language against memebrs of the gay and lesbian community
Construction + Deconstruction of women
Snoop Dog “Cause life ain’t nuttin but money and “f..k a b….”
- Profanity, disrespect, and violence towards women
Queen Latifah, “UNITY” (1993) ““…love a black man from infinity to infinity (Who you callin’ a bitch?)”
Ownership and outlook of women
Ownership of radio stations
Images of women as lighter and skinny = CONSUMPTION
Used to be owned by community = Meso level
Women as properties
Every rap group needed a woman
Rap chick
Women could only shine to be properties of men
Women rallied behind Hip Hop
How hip hop has the ability to construct femininity and women in a positive way
Body positivity
Lizzo, an American singer and rapper “Truth Hurts” (2019) lyrics “I will never ever ever ever ever be your side chick” directly confronts the traditional portrayal
Emotions
Women depicted as being ‘overdramatic’
Empowerment and independence
Sexuality + Siterhood
Queen Latifah “UNITY” (1993) challenges the sexuality of women as in their lyrics they mentions:
Men and masculinity construction/deconstruction
Aggressive/violent = Portrayal of men
Gay = Wrong → Negative
M&M “Criminal” (2000) = Repeatedly accused of homophobia
- Present masculine ideal
- Hyper-masculine
- Sexual dominance
