@!$%#es and Hoes - Exploring Misogyny in Hip-Hop

I came across this article this morning and felt compelled to comment. Freedom of speech is definitely one of the foundations of American Culture. I am a hip hop artist and do not believe in censorship. I do believe that as hip hop artists(black men in particular) we need to start taking more accountability for our actions and lyrics. We excuse talking about violence and drugs as a " story," but the truth is that it is bullshit. When artists like Ice Cube and Public Enemy spoke about violence it was an expression of the frustration of the streets, but it was not glorified. Everything about hip hop today is different. Hip Hop glorifies socially unacceptable behavior. We can't expect black women to be respected if you as a black man call them bitches and hoes in your music. There is no other form of music that portrays women so negatively. This is affecting the overall impression that society has of black women. Look, this era of hip hop has to go if we are to progress as people and as musicians. Every other race keeps their internal problems to themselves except for us. More songs like Goodie Mob's Beautiful Skin and less Pussy Poppin'. I am a black man doing his thing and I can definitely vouch for the fact that black women are doing their thing more than we are as black men. I am speaking as an artist and I am stating that I don't condone it or agree with it. I do not want to come across as hypocritical either. The article states that the artists aren't given a proper platform to speak. The excuses being given by rappers are the same bullshit excuses they give to explain the glorification of violence, drugs, and self hate. I am not going to sit here and act like I am holier than all of these guys though. I am a well educated, successful black man, as are most of my close friends and we have been influenced and brainwashed at certain points of our lives that womanizing and being hateful to women was "cool." The more of a "pimp" you were the cooler you were. I do believe that men naturally have a stronger sexual drive than women and certain desires are hard for us to control. I am maturing as a man and although there are certain vices that I have been guilty of I will not continue to promote those vices as being right. Here is an example of how I feel we should be portraying women. The song " I Like That," let's you know the way I hope to portray our women in all of my music.


"Mekka Don - I Like That"


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@!$%#es and Hoes - Exploring Misogyny in Hip-Hop