This article commemorates the efforts of rappers like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte for excelling in a male dominated culture such as rap. I was attracted to this article because of its title. After reading the title I told myself that whoever wrote this had made a mistake. They could not be talking about present day female rappers. Then I noticed the date that the article was published. It was published on November 5, 1989! So that’s why the writer was so optimistic about women in rap.

The date makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately female rappers like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte are no where to be found in rap today. And if they are out there, we don’t hear their music or know much about them. This article made me realize how much the rap game has changes over the last 18 years. It has evolved into a sexist industry that doesn’t know how to embrace a variety of different artists. There are not many unique rap artists who have their own style and rap with an original perspective. I am not saying that all rappers have to be totally different from one another, but it seems like the same message is reiterated by most rap artists. Even females have become obsessed with money, power, and an image of pure perfection. Rappers seem to have it all these days. Rap videos have a special formula. The classic rap video consists of several cars (with rims, 24′s or higher), dozens of pretty women (wearing summer clothing), a lot of bling-bling, and lyrics that show the world just how conceited the artist is. All of these elements reveal the “luxuries” of life. For a large majority of rappers, the video set is the only time that these ingredients have any truth in them.

Not only are women (including female rappers and video vixens) products of the industry, but men have also fallen victim to the stereotypes about gangsta rappers. Rap as a whole has transformed into a misogynistic monster with so much power and influence on our society. It definitely fits in with our current obsession with the self.

Too bad the 80′s era came to an end.

“It’s hard for a girl to rap. Rap is a very aggressive, testosterone-based, hard-core music at its base. To rap, you’ve got to stand on the stage and say I’m the best and this is what’s up. It’s a very narcissistic music. It takes a special woman to be able to pull that off.”

Why is that women have to be so exceptional, so special, to rap and men have an easier time getting signed and selling records?

Author Baraki Kitwana says, “Clearly, hip-hop remains this kind of male-dominated and almost locker-room atmosphere, and if women are going to be a part of it, they have to buy into it … they have to almost out-male the men.” This idea may sound absurd but if you think about the female artists of today, this thought of female rappers as mega-male or beyond masculine is not far fetched at all. Successful female rappers, like Lil Kim, hold on to the image of themselves as individuals that lack emotions and are fully detached. They are over sexualized and feel the need to jeopardize their femininity for success. They are always being compared to men and have to outperform a man at his own game.

It is unfortunate that women feel like they have to fit a certain mold to be accepted, a mold that they may initially try to avoid and steer away from.

The truth of the matter is that we commonly examine these women against rap but don’t examine them as pure individuals. I think that if a man did the same things (as many male rappers do), people’s impression of that man would be different. But since women are exploiting themselves instead of being exploited by a man, we have a problem. Female rappers have to consider so many more rebuttals because they are simply a female in the male dominated world of rap, a world that is leaking over into mainstream culture.Maybe this is why a lot of women become singers instead of rappers. The world of singing is more open to women than the rap scene.

Remy Ma admits that there were never an abundance of female rappers. “I didn’t realize when I was growing up there weren’t that many female rappers. I didn’t realize what it really was. Now, actually being a female artist, there was no other females at the time or that was even on it like she [MC Lyte] was on it, coming at it from that perspective.” This realization substantial because many girls who may be interested in rap do not have many women to look up to. They may stray from rap because it is obviously very difficult for a female to succeed and why would they want to set themselves up for failure? Maybe this is why Ice-T states that it takes a “special woman.”

It is crucial for a new female artist to be confident in her skills and her image in order for her to stand tall against the media and all of the eyes watching to see if she will succeed. There is always pressure placed on the shoulders of a new artist, but female artists are especially scrutinized and critically examined, specifically because of their gender. I hope that this unfair assessment of female rappers will soon change. But don’t worry, I’ll be sure not to hold my breath.

Here’s a snippet from an interview with Shawnna about the song:

Rappersroom: Your track “Gettin Some Head” is getting crazy spins in clubs & radios…How did this song come about?

Shawnna: My management called me in the middle of the night. The hook was already on the beat. Producer by the name of XL from Chicago, he sent it to my management and they called me like off the chain, like this the one. This is the one we gotta do. Even when I started writing to it? I never really talked about getting some. I just kinda had fun with the record. I thought about it coming on in the club and what would woman want to hear and throw their hands up and going to dance for a little bit. And I guess that was right.

Rappersroom: I remember in a previous article I read about you, you talked about how you try not to rap about sexually explicit things or things that portray woman in a certain way. What is it that made you change your mind when you made this song? (Getting Some)

Shawnna: I really didn’t change my mind. I just felt the beat. I don’t know. I just felt like it was in good faith with my management, cause I really didn’t feel like the song was going to do well, or go to the radio or nothing. I felt like it was a good party joint. A good joint to put on in the car and listen to, but just in good faith I went in there and had fun. I put two verses down and wanted them to go run with it and do what they wanted to do. The content never really got in my head when I was on the song. The beat is one of them beats you want to hop out your ride and bang the alpine, so I wanted a song that you could turn up, if the kid was around you could keep it banging. I didn’t want to get too deep into that. I will rap about explicit things, but I just feel that there is a time and place for it.

In the beginning of the video, there is a sign on the door that reads “NO Children Allowed Unless Being Served.”Shawnna is warning that his song is not appropriate for children, but you will be surprised by how many children know the lyrics and proudly sing along with the song. The most popular part of the song is the infamous hook. Everyone knows about “Gettin Some Head, gettin gettin some head.” What most people are confused about is whether this song is saying that Shawnna is getting the head or giving it. This information could change the way you think about the song.

The song “Gettin Some Head” was a major success and earned a lot of air play. It reached #13 on the Billboard charts for top singles. I read numerous comments on the song and for the most part people really liked it. “The beat was hot” one would say and others commented on Shawnna’s appealing style and flow. The interview reveals that the chorus was already completed when she started working on the track. The chorus is a male’s voice stating that he “was getting some head.” At the end of the chorus, the guy says, “She’s the kinda girl that makes your toes curl.” This would imply that Shawnna is giving head, but then again this is HER song, right?. Shawnna brags about herself in the verses and doesn’t really address who is getting head in the song. This activity is left ambiguous on purpose.

So how does Lil Kim address oral sex…..

“How Many Licks”- Lil Kim

Lil Kim directly speaks about the topic of oral sex without being ambiguous. She holds nothing back. The video is based on the creation of dolls and most of the videos shows how Lil Kim dolls are made for the masses. You can buy your own doll, but she lets the consumer know that “She Doesn’t Satisfy You…..You Satisfy Her.” You can “put her on the grocery list, right next to the whipped cream and box of chocolates.” She comes in a range of dolls just like Barbie. Unlike Barbie, her dolls are designed for men.

I think that it is interesting that Kim chooses to sell and distribute herself as a manufactured product in this video. What does this mean? As we watch the video, we see how the doll is assembled and packaged to be shipped off to the many men who deeply yearn for the doll, like little girls crave for a Barbie doll.

Although these songs choose different routes to discuss the same topic, the songs have one detail in common. These songs are centered around women, but the hooks are done by men. This may not be significant, but I find it ironic that these women chose not to be on the most notable part of their song. Maybe it is more appropriate for men to say these things and have thousands of people? How would the song be different if women, instead of men, were saying such obscene things. Isn’t that a thought?……

Total feat. Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, and Da Brat- “No One Else (Remix)”

It would appear that Foxy Brown and Lil Kim are on the same team, but the truth is far from that.

Foxy Brown and Lil Kim have had an ongoing rivalry since the late 90’s. Quite frankly, I doubt that most people remember the exact time that the beef began or who is responsible for initiating the verbal attacks. The only memorable thing is that the rivalry has gone on for years. As a matter of fact, the battle has lasted and persisted for the majority of both of their careers.

The rivalry between the two MCs may have started with the artists but was definitely fueled by the media. It began because the two women have approached rap in a similar manner and there can only be one to wear the BEST title. Both have similar backgrounds, growing up in Brooklyn, New York and the two twist the male domination of rap to fit a female artist.Their images are explicit, appealing to the male gazer because it is overtly sexual and nearly pornographic, but their lyrics can be seen as female empowering. They spit about the same things that men rap (money, sex, and power) but the female has control and reversely exploits the man. Each artist uses her own voice and body to go against the previously established roles of women in rap.

In 2001, Foxy Brown approached Russell Simmons, the chairman of her label Def Jam/ Def Soul, about ending the prolonged feud. Foxy said, “Russell, I want to call a truce. I want to have a sit-down with Kim. I don’t care what it is. Let’s just end it. We can even do a collaboration. We’re bigger than this. If it has to start with me, let it start with me.” Unfortunately, Lil Kim was not as open to this settlement and her unit did not respond to the calls made by Foxy.

This change of heart may have been triggered by the deaths of two of rap’s greatest legends, Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. Their deaths showed the world that the beef in rap can lead to worse things than hate; it has the capability to cause feelings that inspire killings and death. Life is too precious to throw away for nonsense and Foxy must have realized this when she decided to reach out to Kim. There is no need for the beef to escalate into something further. It is one thing to for the two to dislike each other, but when their lives are jeopardized because of the beef, someone has to be the bigger person and put a stop to it.

The two rappers have been having recent trouble with the law and have not released much music. I would argue that the beef has simmered down a great deal and other beefs have arisen among female rappers. But to date, the beef between Foxy Brown and Lil Kim is the most notorious among female rappers.

The reason why their beef is so unforgettable is because of the nature of their attacks. Never before were female artists so similar in their personas. Both women stepped onto the rap scene at around the same time and had similar views of female empowerment that reverses the male domination and places a woman at the center of sexual satisfaction. They are just two black women trying to make a distinctive name for themselves.

Lil Kim is extremely explicit and most of her music glorifies women like herself, who gain control by their sexual power. She proves that a woman can be as sexually explicit and graphic as men and get away with it. Her entire persona embraces her image as a sex object, yet she is ironically powerful and dominating. On her second CD, she has a song entitled “Suck My Dick.” The lyrics of this song reveals Lil Kim as a being that only thinks about sex; oral sex in particular is focused on and repeatedly mentioned. Although she has not released an official video for this song, someone on youtube took the liberty of posting the video, using pictures and snippets of Lil Kim in her other videos to provide the visuals. The male voice in the video is 50 Cent, a very popular male rap artist. It is interesting to compare the images of Lil Kim and her male counterpart, 50 Cent. This visual representation adds something to the lyrics of the song.

The chorus of the song is especially captivating:

50 Cent: Ay yo, come her bitch
Lil Kim: Nigga fuck you
50 Cent: No, fuck you bitch
Lil Kim: Who you talking to?
50 Cent: Why you acting like a bitch?
Lil Kim: Cause ya’ll niggas ain’t shit
And if I was a dude
I’d tell ya to suck my dick

I find it note worthy to mention that 50 Cent, the male in this interaction, calls the female, Kim, a derogatory name first. His approach to catch her attention initiates the aggressive verbal attacks between the two. Kim is caught off guard and is insulted by the name that she has just been called. To me, it seems that 50 Cent is also very condescending in the way that he talks to Kim. From the language being used, I can picture this confrontation taking place in a public area with a group of men and women present, maybe outside of a club. Specificallyl Kim says “ya’ll niggas” which signifies that more than one ‘nigga’ is present. There seems to be some anger and tension from both parties at the very beginning of this short confrontation.

I also find it ironic that she deliberately mentions that she would say “Suck my dick” if she were a man. Today, both men and women say this statement without much hesitation and it is declared by women frequently, especially if they are in a situation where a man is oppressing them because of their gender. A good example of this is in the movie G.I. Jane. In this film, Demi Moore’s character struggles to become the first woman to survive the Navy Seal training, a training where 60 percent of the trainees don’t make the cut. In one scene in the movie, she tells her superior, the Master Chief to suck her dick. In response, the other trainees laugh and cheer her on. This saying automatically raises the status of the person who speaks it.

I think that Lil Kim doesn’t have to be a “dude” to tell the guy who calls her a bitch to suck her dick, but like in the film, it is interesting that the women adopt a male’s private parts instead of using their own. Saying, “lick my pussy” would be the equivalent, but is less heard of and doesn’t hold the same type of power. For some reason, ‘suck my dick’ is more acceptable and is an insult that is used regardless of gender. It is the power of the dick that makes this phrase such a powerful one.

There are many lines in this song that show the relationship between men and women and highlight the expectations of each gender.

Excerpt from Verse 1:

Imagine if I was a dude and hittin’ cats from the back
With no strings attached
Yeah nigga. Picture that!
I treat ya’ll niggas like ya’ll treat us
No doubt! Ay yo yo
Come here so I can bust in your mouth

Through these lines, Kim compares herself to a male version of herself, emphasizing the problems associated with her being a women. The man that she would be is very similar to male rappers like 50 Cent and their sexually explicit lyrics are approved. She implies that women are commonly reduced to sex objects and that if she were a man, she would be able to bypass all of the controversy around her sexual behavior and her views about sex. Being a woman and regarding sex the way that she does is the reason why she is so infamous.

Excerpt from Verse 2:

He asked me did I love him
I said what came to mind like niggas be doing
Yeah, baby I love you long time…

Got the camcorder laying in the drawer where he can’t see
Can’t wait to show the girls how he sucked the piss out of my pussy…

Niggas know he give me all his cake
I peeled the Benjis off and threw the singles back in his face

The second verse first addresses men who lie about being in love and Kim says that she adopts this habit, doing the same thing that “niggas be doing.” She also does some additional lying, hiding the camcorder. This camcorder is needed as evidence for proof later. Not only is Kim going to run and tell her girlfriends how she conquered a man in the bedroom, but she will receive further gratification when she reviews the footage. By watching it back on tape, she can keep the image of her victory forever. Maybe it is also supposed to serve as some kind of trophy, a personal triumph for women. The last bit shows Kim’s obsession with money and how money does in fact equal power. She is constantly being put in the eyes of other men and her attitude about making money is taking it from guys that she hooks up with. The way that she describes it here makes it seem that the man is willingly giving her money, maybe it is some sort of payment, but nonetheless the money is given to her. The man is rendered broke at the end, no money and no respect as she throws the singles in his face, a sign of him having no worth.

Excerpt from Verse 3:

Imma keep it real
For the dough, I might kill
Tryna see my face on a hundred dollar bill…

Niggas ain’t shit but they still can trick
All they can do for me is suck my clit
I’m jumpin’ up and up after I cum
Thinkin’ they gone get some pussy but they gets none

Once again money is placed very high on her priority list. She goes as far as saying she might even kill for money. This extreme act shows just how much money is valued by Kim. The next part acknowledges the double standards between men and women. There is the rebuttal that men have this option of “tricking” because of their gender, a choice that is closed off to women. Although they don’t deserve to have this type of behavior accepted, society condones it anyway. Kim has no need for men, as they have been reduced to satisfy her. She has no desire to try and please them and once she has been sexually fulfilled the intimacy is cut short and is over. Her “pussy” gives her authority because it is the one thing that men want and she deprives them of it to show her true power.

If you were to eliminate the sexual aspects of this song, the underlying message being discussed is respect. Since men have no respect for Lil Kim, she therefore has no respect for men. It is compelling that she decides to use the same act of sex to degrade men, an act that usually disempowers women. She creates an interaction between men and women that can never have the two equal, at least not at the same time. There will always be some imbalance of power if the respect of each individual is constantly gained at the expense of the other. This is similar to the game of tug-of-war where only one can be triumphant. The playing field will never be equal between men and women if they act like ‘niggas and bitches.’

Jeff Varner said it best when he said Kim, “Looks like a woman and plays like a man.” Kim agreed saying, “Yup, that’s my motto.” Kim wants to take the man’s game and make it her own, creating her own rules. Well maybe her rules aren’t that far off from the original ones, she just likes to rebel against the norms and play the game so that she is always declared the winner. Although it is pretty obvious that there are no legitimate winners or losers in this game, if you decide to play, both participants put themselves in jeopardy.

WARNING: PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

This is a harsh and cynical evaluation of Lil Kim but raises good questions about why Lil Kim is so much more successful than Foxy Brown. One theory is that Lil Kim is more attractive by White America’s standards of beauty. She has lighter skin, blonde hair, and resembles white beauty far more than Foxy does. Kim also built her career with the help of the Notorious B.I.G. With such a rap icon as this in her corner, it is not surprising that she has succeeded. Foxy had no assistance that compares in magnitude to the support given to Kim.

Bell Hooks also points out that early on in Kim’s career, she confessed that she did not know what love was. This may have also influenced her detached, extremely sexual persona. The absence of love has caused her to become impervious about the significance of love and sex. Instead of embracing the idea of love, she dismisses these feelings and reduces sex to an act that can empower or degrade an individual. If one thinks about sex as operating in this fashion, their views are distorted. Therefore, her music can only accomplish a comparison between the sexes that measures power.

This essay questions whether either artist has freedom, pointing out that each needs to sell records in order to be successful and this may lead to a distortion of self. The media, combined with the way that these women are marketed, has had a profound impact on how people view Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. It has also determined how available their work is to the masses. One guy made a comment on the article quoted above, saying that he liked Lil Kim better and noticed that it was harder for him to find Foxy’s albums because they are not easily accessible like Kim’s. Maybe he likes Lil Kim better because she is more popular and her image is thrown in his face, unlike Foxy.

In the eyes of Rolling Stone and other high profiled publications, it seems as though Kim is the winner and better MC. She sells more records, her image is more acceptable and therefore heavily promoted and visible, and her name rings more bells. Each artist uses a combination of things to gain “power” and “freedom.” Their voices, bodies, and experiences all contribute to how they are perceived as each tries to outsmart the other lyrically.

After reading this essay, it appears that neither woman is victorious since both women have conformed to what the business of rap wanted to endorse. Some people have a hard time acknowledging the agency of these rappers which is understandable, but we also have to take into account that maybe these women want to be seen in such a light. This thought rarely runs through people’s minds.

So we come back to the same question: Who is the better MC? Well I guess it depends on how you define better. Or is this just one of those comparisons that females are so infamous for making?…..…..

Here is a video by Jackie-O featuring The Ying Yang Twins titled “Fine.”

In most videos created by female rappers, the artist is often made up to have some appeal to men. Female artists sometimes objectify themselves in the video and lyrics of their songs. Jackie- O, a southern female rapper, does just this in her song “Fine” with the Ying Yang Twins, two male rappers. The video places her at the center of attention and she seems to enjoy her position, flirting with the camera. The video starts off with her dancing towards the camera as the Ying Yang Twins are heard repeatedly saying, “Damn, that bitch is fine” and Jackie-O adds her own thoughts, declaring “I’m a sexy motherfucker.” The male figure is set up as the gazer and audience at the opening of the video. The relationship between Jackie-O opposite men has already been established within the first seconds of the video. The Ying Yang Twins are not yet present on camera, but it is understood that they are watching Jackie-O and the other women present in the video. As she raps the first verse of this song, three other women are seen in the background. There is a close up of the topless women who are sitting on a bed, dancing to the music. A hint of lesbianism is thrown into this video. I’m not sure if Jackie-O is a bisexual (I don’t think that she is), but she uses other women to represent a group that is not seriously talked about in rap. Jackie-O clearly stays away from the lesbian activity but still incorporates this into her video to

Throughout the entire video Jackie-O brags about how men want her and why she is so desirable. Several other female rappers adopt the same view of themselves as they portray an image that they believe men will crave and appreciate. It is one thing for these women to be an individual that men desire, but it is something different when they include other women to become more sexually attractive.

Lesbians and female bisexuals are often lusted after by men. Later in the video the women start kissing and caressing each other. I was shocked that they took the touching and caressing each other that far. It is common for women to engage in lesbian activity, especially in rap videos, to appeal to the male audience, but I was not expecting to see this in a video by a female artist. Interestingly enough, it is assumed that these women are not lesbians at all, maybe bisexual, but are indeed attracted to men. The reasons why they participate in lesbian activities is for the pleasure of men and not their own satisfaction. At one point in the video, one of the women in the threesome, makes it obvious that she is conscious of the fact that she is being watched. She glances at the camera while she is kissing one of the other women. This peek at the camera acknowledges the audience and leads me to believe that these women may not be lesbians. The women may not be engaging in these actions for their own pleasure, but to please men who are the intended viewers.

This pretense is unfortunately common and the reasons for pretending are not very good ones. Not only are these women playing a role that makes them appear to be something they are not, but they are posing as real women who have no sexual interest in males. This video and other rap videos that feature lesbians exploits lesbianism as women who are not in fact lesbians play the role to catch the eyes of heterosexual men.

Although Christina Aguilera is not a rapper, her message about double standards between men and women is one that is often talked about by female rappers. In Christina’s video, Lil Kim’s verse reiterates this inequality.

In this video, Aguilera confronts a man after he grabbed her butt. He thinks that his behavior is appropriate because she is wearing short shorts and he liked what he saw. This type of aggressive molesting behavior is not rare and many women are sexually assaulted by men daily. Women who wear “revealing” clothes are not asking to be felt up, but many men mistake their appearance for “wanting” to be harassed. It is shocking that Aguilera speaks up and says something to the man who doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions. The two draw a crowd and it is the women versus the man in the middle of the street. The women and men are divided by gender, each group uniting with their sisters or brothers.

I think that the lyrics are especially important because this is one of the few songs that specifically points out how men and women are viewed differently when it comes to appropriate and acceptable behavior. A woman touching a man in a private area is a happening that is never really talked about, not that it never happens, but the chances are much slimmer for a man to be sexually assaulted. Women are less likely to violate the space of a man but more likely to have their space invaded.

This song is empowering to women because it shows that women have the power to speak out against males who mistreat them. When I saw this video for the first time, I was shocked that Christina Aguilera was so blunt and open about the topic. I said to myself, “Finally a woman who acknowledges the struggles of all women and puts the issue out there. ” There are many double standards in our society that are rarely addressed and publicly opposed. I could think of no better person to be featured on the song than Lil Kim who is the symbol of equal opportunities for women. Although she is hyper sexualized, I think that she is usually seen as an icon of female empowerment. There are many controversial sides of Lil Kim but I think that her presence in this song adds to its rebellious tone.

I wish that we could walk away like Christina Aguilerra does at the end of this video from this sexist society, but the world and its standards are not as easy to escape from.

“Love is Blind” is one of Eve’s first singles featured on her debut album, Ruff Ryders’ First Lady (1999). This song speaks out against domestic violence and men who abuse girlfriends, mistresses, or wives. The video captures the story of a woman, Eve’s friend, who constantly runs back to a man that abuses her, ultimately causing her death. The story of a woman being killed by her lover is one that has been told over and over again. In 1990, according to the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 30% of women killed in the United States die at the hands of a husband or boyfriend.

The Women’s Aid Federation define domestic violence as follows: ‘Domestic violence is physical, psychological, sexual or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour.’

Here is a list of facts about Domestic Violence

1. A woman is beaten every 15 seconds, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between 15 and 45 in the United States. This is more than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined. Battered women are more likely to suffer miscarriages and to give birth to babies with low birth weights.
2. This sort of violence is the establishment of fear and control in a relationship. It is done through violence and other forms of abuse. The batterer uses intimidation, threats, psychological abuse, isolation, etc. to control the other person. The violence may not even happen often but it remains as a hidden and constant terrorizing factor. In many cases, it is predictable and happens in cycles.
3. Women of all ages, income levels, occupations, races and cultures are battered by boyfriends, lovers, husbands, partners and sometimes blood relatives. According to the Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women, approximately one-third of the men they counseled for battering were professionals who were well-respected in their jobs and community.
4. According to the Boston Bar Journal (33-4, Jul/Aug, 1989), 22 to 35 percent of women who visit medical emergency rooms are seeking treatment for injuries related to ongoing abuse. One in four pregnant women have a history of partner violence.

http://www.bygirlsforgirls.org/domesticviolence.html or www.domesticviolence.org

This song and video also addresses sisterhood and friendship. Eve wants to have revenge on the killer of her friend. She warns her friend about the dangers of her relationship with the abusive father of her kids, exposing the unhealthy relationship, and tells her friend that she must leave him. But the friend ignored her warnings and was a victim of domestic violence which led to her death. Eve says this about stubborn friend.

“Nigga whatever my bitch, fuck it my sister
You could never figure out even if I let you live
What our love was all about
I considered her my blood and it don’t come no thicker

Through these lines we learn about the bond between Eve and her dead friend. Like in many rap songs, the word bitch is not used offensively but is used as a friendly term. Eve went as far as calling her friend a sister and kills the man who caused the death of her “sister,” risking her own freedom for vengeance.

She knows that she will be imprisoned for her actions, but acts regardless of the consequences, showing true loyalty to her friend. This action shows the ultimate power of friendship and sisterhood, when one woman risks everything in the name and in honor of another.

“Among the most commonly depicted images of African-American womanhood is the image of the promiscuous “temptress” known as Jezebel. The new generation of rappers, through their X-rated lyrics and fashions, breathe new life into Jezebel, a mythical caricature and distorted representation of African-American womanhood….This Note focuses primarily on the racist and sexist social construct known as the Jezebel, and the proliferation of the Jezebel image into rap music, particularly the music of the new generation of African-American female rap artists. Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown are affectionately known as “gangsta bitches” and are credited as the catalysts for the revolutionary sexual persona of the new generation. They have established their fame largely because of their “barely there” fashions. Female rapper BOSS commented that “tight clothes mean ‘weak lyrics.” ‘ That being the case, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown are saying nothing lyrically, with respect to the social status of African-American women, but talking loud, since they are among the most successful of the contemporary female rap artists. The new generation personifies what has perhaps been the most destructive image of African-American womanhood, an image that African- American women have for centuries tried to “live down.” The Jezebel image, as glorified by emerging female rappers, continues to be resurrected from history and projects a distorted image of African-American womanhood.”

Prior to reading this article, I didn’t really pay attention to how significant female rap artists are in contributing to the few portrayals of Black women in the media. There is no surprise that the most successful female artists are African-American since rap has been tied and so intimately connected to the Black community. Although black women are expressing themselves via music, there is a notion that they should be held strictly responsible for their depiction of the Black woman, since there are very few outlets where Black women are being publicized. I think that we must also focus on why these artists are so successful and how society favors this image. Even without Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, sooner or later the image of a sexy black female rapper would have emerged. It eventually would have happened, I guess just after the mid 90’s.

Most depictions of the black woman can be classified under the four categories mentioned in this article:
1) the “sex object,” also known as the “Jezebel”;
2) the “tragic mulatto”–neither White nor Black;
3) the “comical domestic servant,” also known as “Aunt Jemima”; and
4) the masculinized, domineering matriarch commonly referred to as “Mammy” or the “Sapphire” image.

These representations are overbearing and extremely limiting to how black women are seen in our society. From the end of slavery to the present time, black women and their role in society have had few breakthroughs, especially when compared to other oppressed groups. The adopted stigmas about black female beauty continue to linger and unconsciously, or rather subconsciously, affect how black women are perceived by mainstream America. I would argue that black men face the similar types of dilemma, but have become dominant in the world of rap and so can use rap to create a more varied representation than women, the minorities in rap.

All female rappers do not fall under the Jezebel category but being a promiscuous female has become popular in rap. Most posters of female rappers are pictures of the artist wearing very little clothing. There are a few that have strayed from this image, but the most recent successful female artists (Trina, Shawnna, Remy Ma, etc) have adopted this image as being the standard.

Even the rapper moms have embraced this image. Pictures of Shawnna and Remy Ma (mothers) do not look dramatically different from those of Lil Kim or Foxy Brown. Not only are these women tough, but they are also sexy. The Jezebel is combined with hardcore strength and skill credibility to produce the ultimate icon of the female rapper.