Alive and Well: Feminism in Hip-Hop

Feminism, which is classified as the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men, is a movement that has been attacked on many different angles and adding in hip-hop flavor adds more for the movement to savor . Deep down at it’s core, feminism is a peaceful and beneficial movement that is perceived as hateful and negative, which has given way for it to lose credibility over the years. Most human beings have an outdated or inaccurate notion of what feminism is all about and this is where musicians set in to straighten that out. Feminism is not solely about gender and/or women as it strives to end the exploitation and oppression of human beings due to their gender, sexual orientation, race, class and any other differences, with means that support human beings in being liberated and free to choose the direction of their lives for themselves. Feminism aids in expanding mindsets trapped in the past that are still under the faulty belief that forcing individuals into traditional roles is the route to take for a peaceful universal existence. Feminism aids in helping society understand why individuals exploit, discriminate and silence certain movements due to their uncomfortable sense of personal self. Here are eight rhymes by hip-hop soldiers that have laced their passion for Feminism into their wordplay. 

8.

“If I wanna take a guy home with me tonight

It’s none of your business

And if she wanna be a freak and sell it on the weekend

It’s none of your business

Now you shouldn’t even get into who I’m givin skins to

It’s none of your business

So don’t try to change my mind, I’ll tell you one more time

It’s none of your business.”

Salt-N-Pepa – “None Of Your Business”

 

7.

“I want to say a little something that’s long overdue

The disrespect to women has got to be through

To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends

I want to offer my love and respect to the end.”

Beastie Boys – “Sure Shot”

 

6.

“Instinct leads me to another flow

Every time I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho

Trying to make a sister feel low

You know all of that gots to go.”

Queen Latifah – “U.N.I.T.Y”

 

 

5.

“There’s no girls rapping so we’re only hearing half the truth

What we have to lose? Too much

Half our youth aren’t represented, the better halves of dudes

So we don’t hear about your brain, just your brains”

Shad – “Keep Shining”

 

 

4.

“It’s important, we communicate

and tune the fate of this union, to the right pitch

I never call you my bitch or even my boo

There’s so much in a name and so much more in you

Few understand the union of woman and man

And sex and a tingle is where they assume that it land”

Common – “The Light”

 

 

3.

“You don’t have to love me. You don’t even have to like me. But you will respect me.”

Kelis – “Bossy”

 

 

2.

“I am woman, hear me roar

Comin’ out fresher and flyer than I did before

That’s right, I’m well respected

Don’t get stupid, I’m well protected

If ya wanna battle I’m well prepared

Me and K-Rock are far from scared.”

MC Lyte – “I Am Woman”

 

 

1.

“Listen, my soul mission was to rap and get paid too

Be someone that these little girls look up to.”

Rapsody – “Believe Me”