So I grew up listening to rap when my parents weren't watching. I hung around with kids at school that only listened to rap. I used to attend concerts for local artists in San Antonio and I had no problems with the lyrics. Wasn't until college (big surprise) that I started thinking, "hey, why do the artists only ever refer to women as 'bitches' or 'hoes'?"
When I look back, I think about how I listened to the Eminem, especially. I thought he was the best.
Has laregely been criticized for his misogynistic lyrics, especially to "Kim" where he raps about killing his girlfriend and stuffing her in a trunk. He has openly stated he hates women because of the way his mother treated him and the way his girlfriend Kim ended up treating him.
His newest single "Rap God" has been praised recently for it's style and art and often, Eminem is praised as a well, rap god. Even though in that song, the end goes a little something like this
They're asking me to eliminate some of the women hate, but if you take into consideration the bitter hatred
I had Then you may be a little patient and more sympathetic to the situation and understand the discrimination
But fuck it, life's handing you lemons, make lemonade then
But if I can't batter the women, how the fuck am I supposed to bake them a cake then?
Eminem also has a 17 year old daughter. He has recently stated that he would never want his daughter to date someone who likes his music.. WHAT!? But it's okay for the violent images and lyrics in his songs to be memorized and worshiped by other men (and women!) everywhere?!!?!?
What are some of ya'lls thoughts on rap music lyrics? The issue is multilayered and deeefinatley an issue that is centered around color, but just wondering if anyone's got any links to blog posts or articles that talk about this.
I am also a fan of rap music, yet it is becoming increasingly more difficult to be a fan. I used to tell myself they were just words and that nobody took them seriously, but then I met some ignorant people who lived by the words of their favorite rap artists. One song that really caused me to step back from rap is from the song "Love Me" by Lil Wayne. There is so much demeaning language in that song that it's hard for me to enjoy rap music.
ReplyDeleteRap music scares me, especially because I think that it causes women who listen to the music to view themselves as objects. I think it is easy to be brainwashed into that state of thinking when all you are listening to reduces you to tits and ass.