All of this just fell into my lap at once so I thought I would lump it into one post about hip-hop and spotlight films, activism and music that is going down showing the changing face of hip-hop and responding to the hypermasculinity portrayed in mainstream hip hop today.
Firstly, I was reading over at New American Media about Byron Hurt's new documentary on manhood in hip hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Hip-Hop Culture. In it he tackles what he finds as a formulaic presentation of contemporary rap artists. Vibe writes. . .
Hurt’s relationship to some of hip hop’s lyrical content shifted soon after college, when he was hired to educate high school and college athletes about gender issues. “I didn’t know anything about ‘gender awareness’ when they hired me,� he says. “It made me nervous. I was worried my friends would think I was soft for what I was doing.� The training he received on the job, though, changed his life. “I realized for the first time that sexism and violence against women were real issues. And I felt like I could make a difference.�Then, while watching Rap City one day back in 2000, Hurt suddenly found himself noticing that “all the videos looked very … formulaic.� Thugged-out rappers, scantily-clad women, cash, and cars – it all seemed to be playing on repeat, and it all seemed to present the same message: these are the things you need in order to be a “man.�
I love me some Pam the Funkstress!
A much needed commentary. Along with this I was reading in the SFChronicle last week about a new CD being released highlighting women rappers and MC's, aight.
In the past couple of years, all-female DJ nights have become much more common locally, but the phenomenon isn't limited to the Bay Area. "I didn't realize how many women DJs were really, really out there until I hit MySpace," Pam confides with a chuckle.Typically, women in hip-hop have been portrayed as video vixens (i.e. Karrine "Superhead" Stephens), oversexed divas (think Lil' Kim and Trina), or asexual tomboys (a la Lady Sovereign). Occasionally, they get to be girlfriends of a thugged-out Big Willie type, but only if they're "bootylicious" (like Beyoncé). However, those limited stereotypes are but a small representation of the role women have actually played in the culture.
This week, S.F.-based independent label Outta Nowhere Entertainment hopes to alter the public perception of women in hip-hop with the release of "Queendom, Vol. 1," the first in a projected series spotlighting female emcees and DJs from across the country and the world.
Finally, this film was also played at the Independent Film Festival this last week and I stupidly missed it, but it too was about women fighting stereotypes of misogyny in hip hop in South Africa.
Activism against the capitalist inspired misogyny in hip hop has been going on for a while, but has yet to truly absorb into the mainstream. But perhaps it is finally gaining momentum.
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As much as I tend to run with the same circle of acquaintances most of the time, there are some interests that don’t seem to overlap very often. So I was glad to see that the Rhetoric Society of America at UH Hilo is helping to publicize the docu... Read More
Sweetness.
I could use me some "Love Me Or Hate Me" right about now since you mentioned it.
*mentioned Lady Sovereign.
Whoops.
And that is the problem, right there. The music suffers, the music industry thrives.
I gotta name drop Psalm One and Remy Ma. Two of my favorite female MCs.
Check out Be Girl Be -- it's women-in-hip-hop conference. 2006 was its second year. People came from all over. I happened to be in town (the twin cities) while it was happening, so I checked it out. It was really, really, amazing. The culminating show was an incredible experience. I love hip hop, so I've been to a bunch of hip-hop shows, and they're usually (always) dominated by men (I'm just referring to numbers), on stage and off. This was the first show I'd been to with a majority female audience, let alone an all female lineup. It was interesting and refreshing to to be in the minority (I'm male) at this show. The energy was phenomenal--unlike almost any hip hop show I've been to. It rekindled some faith in hip hop for me. It was all-ages, and that definitely helped. But the energy and excitement was just amazing, and unique. There was a real sense that this was something new, and something really meaningful and exciting for everyone involved. The crowd got LIVE -- something I hadn't seen in a long time, and haven't since (yet).
Check out Be Girl Be -- it's women-in-hip-hop conference. 2006 was its second year. People came from all over. I happened to be in town (the twin cities) while it was happening, so I checked it out. It was really, really, amazing. The culminating show was an incredible experience. I love hip hop, so I've been to a bunch of hip-hop shows, and they're usually (always) dominated by men (I'm just referring to numbers), on stage and off. This was the first show I'd been to with a majority female audience, let alone an all female lineup. It was interesting and refreshing to to be in the minority (I'm male) at this show. The energy was phenomenal--unlike almost any hip hop show I've been to. It rekindled some faith in hip hop for me. It was all-ages, and that definitely helped. But the energy and excitement was just amazing, and unique. There was a real sense that this was something new, and something really meaningful and exciting for everyone involved. The crowd got LIVE -- something I hadn't seen in a long time, and haven't since (yet).
It's almost too late to post this, but if you're in the Bay Area, "Beyond Beats & Rhymes" airs TONIGHT on KQED, at 11 p.m. on "Independent Lens."
I would assume it's airing on other PBS stations nationwide, so ::TV announcer voice:: Check Your Local Listings.
I would like to get in touch with anyone from feministing for a project in the Hip-Hop Rappers section at HHP's mag.
We're giving a lot of respect for Female MCs and females generally in HHP :)