hip hop

misogyny

occupation / innovator as

actor

singer

nationality

American

rapper

musician

race / ethnicity

African American

voice

My Archive

is a movement whose ongoing disrespect of women has literally broken down our character, creating a market that is predictably hostile to female performers.

MC Lyte argues that hip-hop's ongoing disrespect of women has 'literally broken down our character, creating a market that is predictably hostile to female performers. 'It has gotten to the point that we have been subjected to such harsh verbal treatment ' assassinated even ' that who would want to listen'' And so, thanks to a climate of its own making, the recording industry is understandably reluctant to back female artists, and even when it does, it often tries to pigeon-hole them into roles that put sexual style over musical substance. For example, in a recent interview, Sharaya J, an up-and-coming artist working with Missy Elliott, recounted that after she had presented her work to a group of record executives, one of them suggested that she put on some heels, get a weave, and 'sell them with sex.' In other words, record executives seem to be encouraging women to peddle an image that caters to the sexual desire of fans ' which serves to further reinforce them as objects rather than credible rappers ' even as they complain that the costs of maintaining this image are prohibitive since women don't move enough units. - Erik Nielson, an assistant professor at the University of Richmond (via NPR)

MC LyteThinkers

MC Lyte