With the emergence of gangsta rap, hip hop made a radical change to its themes and style. Those days when Afrika Bambaataa and DJ Kool Herc conquered every corner of the Bronx scene have faded into oblivion. During the mid-eighties, young mc’s (master of ceremonies or mic controllers) invaded the streets with truthful sounds: gunshots, police sirens, and their real experiences.
However, little by little, rap songs acquired a theme that was more related to the dreams of its interpreters than the realities of the streets. Constantly dreaming of becoming important thugs, gangsta rappers only talked about the luxuries obtained through mafia. Songs like “Big Poppa” by the legendary Biggie Smalls, proved that these musicians didn’t care about anyone but themselves and their fame. That’s the moment when they introduced women into their songs. They were depicted as an object comparable in value to a car or a mansion. This was so popular in their songs that they even bragged about “owning” more that one woman.
These lyrics began a debate about the use of violence in rap music and the strong misogynistic attitude of its representatives. Soon, rap videos became the main responsible for creating an exaggerated stereotype of beautiful women. Musicians insisted on using that distorted female image as a visual aid in each of their productions. They exploited that image so much that people ended up normalizing that aesthetic to the point that it invaded everyday life, resulting in the creation of new beauty standards.
The prejudiced image that has permeated until today is the reason why many activist groups have requested rappers to show real women in their videos or, even better, to stop exploiting that stereotyped image to sell and focus on creating good music. However, no one expected the toughest critic coming from within the genre; to be precise, from Kendric Lamar, one of its representatives.
On March 31, 2017, the rapper surprised the world with the launching of his new single “Humble,” setting social media ablaze. No one could stop talking about the revealing content of his video. The reason? Well, Lamar’s song was a protest against all those female stereotypes, especially those in rap videos where Afro-American models are digitally stylized. Not only did Lamar reveal his preference for natural bodies, but he also presented a manifest condemning what society hasn’t been able to provide: respect for women.
«I’m so fuckin’ sick and tired of the Photoshop
Show me somethin’ natural like afro on Richard Pryor
Show me somethin’ natural like ass with some stretch marks»
While it’s true that “Humble” became an instant phenomenon, this is really due to its impact on social media. Some time ago, other musicians had already addressed the issue of female beauty’s exploitation in their songs. In 2011, Dead Press released their single “The Beauty Within,” which not only acknowledged Afro-American women’s beauty, but it also exalted their decision of wearing the afro hairstyle as a symbol of identity and resistance in front of a society that states straight hair is a sign of beauty.
Likewise, in J. Cole’s single “Crooked Smile,” the rapper reaffirmed the idea that no one is perfect. He starts stating that he had reached fame just as he was, with a crooked smile and a flawed look. He then encourages women not to change who they are just to be liked by someone, but to be valued for what’s inside them and not for what people want them to be.
Before “Humble,” Lamar had already shown his position. With his “Keisha’s Song (Her Pain),” from his 2011 album Section. 80, he tells his listeners that they should understand and sympathize with Keisha’s difficult situation. The song has a tragic end, as Lamar reveals that Keisha died at age 17 at the hands of a pervert. This song shows the fragility and unfairness of life through the use of vulgar and graphic language. Lamar speaks about the fragility of women, which taken out of context can be a controversial statement to make, but this fragility stems from the social disadvantage and the lack of opportunities women face on a daily basis.
“Her anatomy is God’s temple
and it’s quite simple, her castle is bout to be destroyed
She’s always paranoid, watching the law inside the streets”
With “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” Lamar proves that his intention is to create music that truthfully portrays reality –the main purpose of gangsta rap–, but without satisfying an industry. He wants to connect with people and make them see what’s going on with the world, and one day, perhaps, make it a better place.
With no doubt, the release of “Humble,” together with the change that some rappers have given to the genre, is providing a hopeful future for music. Marketing techniques are not only focusing on visual aspects, but also on emotional and social subjects. This new direction, that should’ve been done a long time ago, tries to make the audience feel identified with the subjects presented. Let’s see what happens and hope that these initiatives continue generating positive responses.
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Sources:
Vogue
Paper Mag
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Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
