Comments on: Sexism and Indie Hip Hop http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop A Minneapolis-Based Music Blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:03:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Peter http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-271404 Peter Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:15:38 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-271404 I'm a musician, but not operating in the hip-hop genre, but even still I think this does lay out some good points about sexism in music in general as well. I also particularly agree with creating representative bills (if you're a promoter), but I think the idea of creating entire shows or festivals built around female shows is noble, but at least at times can perhaps have an unintended effect of actually making females seem more like outliers, rather than less. Yes, there are plenty of talented women out there, but putting them all in one show, rather than spreading them out over 20 shows seems to make it seem more like talented women are a fluke, rather than just demonstrating their talent to a less aware audience (because based on the rock shows I've seen, rock shows featuring girls in bands are almost entirely attended by women, whereas regular rock shows are usually attended pretty equally). I’m a musician, but not operating in the hip-hop genre, but even still I think this does lay out some good points about sexism in music in general as well. I also particularly agree with creating representative bills (if you’re a promoter), but I think the idea of creating entire shows or festivals built around female shows is noble, but at least at times can perhaps have an unintended effect of actually making females seem more like outliers, rather than less. Yes, there are plenty of talented women out there, but putting them all in one show, rather than spreading them out over 20 shows seems to make it seem more like talented women are a fluke, rather than just demonstrating their talent to a less aware audience (because based on the rock shows I’ve seen, rock shows featuring girls in bands are almost entirely attended by women, whereas regular rock shows are usually attended pretty equally).

]]> By: Sketch tha cataclysm http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-268497 Sketch tha cataclysm Sat, 30 May 2009 23:02:58 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-268497 I could really appreciate this piece. It has been a touchy with a lot of emcees and promoters in the area I have been rocking in (CT), and one of the points you brought up, representation, has a lot to do with it over here. Whenever a female rocks the mic and kills it at one of our monthly events over here it is a BIG deal. The problem we have had though is that is a rarity. We have an over-abundance of scantily-clad women shaking ass in the face of men who have just got off the mic talking about them shaking their ass. It's severely disappointing. A woman by the name of Eimaj from Buffalo came through and killed it and then the scene was sorely missing that good representation for the next few months. I could respond (and basically agree) with every point you made for days but I will leave it there. peace and blessings and thanks again. Sketch. I could really appreciate this piece.

It has been a touchy with a lot of emcees and promoters in the area I have been rocking in (CT), and one of the points you brought up, representation, has a lot to do with it over here.

Whenever a female rocks the mic and kills it at one of our monthly events over here it is a BIG deal. The problem we have had though is that is a rarity. We have an over-abundance of scantily-clad women shaking ass in the face of men who have just got off the mic talking about them shaking their ass. It’s severely disappointing. A woman by the name of Eimaj from Buffalo came through and killed it and then the scene was sorely missing that good representation for the next few months.

I could respond (and basically agree) with every point you made for days but I will leave it there.

peace and blessings and thanks again.

Sketch.

]]> By: Julia Bouchier a.k.a. Run_in_Watta http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-268253 Julia Bouchier a.k.a. Run_in_Watta Sat, 30 May 2009 01:22:57 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-268253 I am a MC/Producer. I have been in My city's Seen for well over a decade. I have not excepted that, I'm not being booked for shows because I'm a woman. It really makes me wonder though. View magazine did this article about the HIS-story of Edmonton hip hop. Where was it mentioned that There where Women in the seen?. Like DJ Lady V, and Angeline, and Run_in_Watta and Girlie MC ?. It's a man's world and I'll fight it all the way. every one knows we where there reppin'. guess we are just the arm Candie right? when there are a large turn outs for hip hop shows and the crowd is asked" where my lady's at?" it pisses me off. When I perform I go out of my way to let every one know that I'm Edmonton's only female MC/producer. Generally for society, from my perspective, it's seem one (a female) either has to water down there lyrical content. Or 2, Go the way of the hoe.. Just to get noticed and be listened too. It makes me rethink and second guess my self all the time. There is too much pressure just to be. I've always felt the if you where a woman, you'd have to prove your self that much more. Even as I write this people are thinking I'm feminist. I'm a equalist, looking for the same dame opportunity as next person. If I talk about sex, it's because I'm a dirty girl, not a sensual person. If I'm angry, up set, assertive or aggressive, I'm a bitch. If i say another girl is beautiful, I'm gay. This list goes on, and on. when will it stop?, when we pretend that it doesn't exists? And that it doesn't effect us, as society. The energy I want to bring is equality. compassion, education, and love. I want for ever one to have. I hope that many people read this article, and think about how lose terms effect us all. On every scale... Peace, Run_in_Watta help support women in Hip hop I am a MC/Producer. I have been in My city’s Seen for well over a decade. I have not excepted that, I’m not being booked for shows because I’m a woman. It really makes me wonder though. View magazine did this article about the HIS-story of Edmonton hip hop. Where was it mentioned that There where Women in the seen?. Like DJ Lady V, and Angeline, and Run_in_Watta and Girlie MC ?. It’s a man’s world and I’ll fight it all the way. every one knows we where there reppin’. guess we are just the arm Candie right?

when there are a large turn outs for hip hop shows and the crowd is asked” where my lady’s at?” it pisses me off. When I perform I go out of my way to let every one know that I’m Edmonton’s only female MC/producer. Generally for society, from my perspective, it’s seem one (a female) either has to water down there lyrical content. Or 2, Go the way of the hoe.. Just to get noticed and be listened too. It makes me rethink and second guess my self all the time. There is too much pressure just to be. I’ve always felt the if you where a woman, you’d have to prove your self that much more.

Even as I write this people are thinking I’m feminist. I’m a equalist, looking for the same dame opportunity as next person. If I talk about sex, it’s because I’m a dirty girl, not a sensual person. If I’m angry, up set, assertive or aggressive, I’m a bitch. If i say another girl is beautiful, I’m gay. This list goes on, and on. when will it stop?, when we pretend that it doesn’t exists? And that it doesn’t effect us, as society. The energy I want to bring is equality.

compassion, education, and love. I want for ever one to have. I hope that many people read this article, and think about how lose terms effect us all. On every scale…
Peace, Run_in_Watta

help support women in Hip hop

]]> By: samiha http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267852 samiha Thu, 28 May 2009 20:27:38 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267852 thank you so much for writing this post. i'm glad that you included tangible solutions to the problem that can actually mobilize people to get up and change things, rather than just writing a sad post about a sad situation. i will definitely pass this along to other people. i think another thing worth noting though is the fan dynamic of hip-hop. as someone who completely loves hip-hop but has no musical talent whatsoever, it's as disheartening to see that the genre i love is so male-dominated as it is to see that the crowds of the hip-hop shows i go to are as equally male-dominated. i don't like it when people assume that i'm there only because the rapper is cute, or because i was dragged by my boyfriend. and i don't like it when people say it's "cute" that i can rap along. i understand that that comment may be well-intentioned, but making me feel like i have a sense of entitlement or i deserve additional credit simply because of my gender is as bad as the reverse. my friend salina put me onto your blog and i'm so glad i checked it out. you say a lot of important and insightful things, and i really appreciate that you take the time to do so. thank you so much for writing this post. i’m glad that you included tangible solutions to the problem that can actually mobilize people to get up and change things, rather than just writing a sad post about a sad situation. i will definitely pass this along to other people.

i think another thing worth noting though is the fan dynamic of hip-hop. as someone who completely loves hip-hop but has no musical talent whatsoever, it’s as disheartening to see that the genre i love is so male-dominated as it is to see that the crowds of the hip-hop shows i go to are as equally male-dominated. i don’t like it when people assume that i’m there only because the rapper is cute, or because i was dragged by my boyfriend. and i don’t like it when people say it’s “cute” that i can rap along. i understand that that comment may be well-intentioned, but making me feel like i have a sense of entitlement or i deserve additional credit simply because of my gender is as bad as the reverse.

my friend salina put me onto your blog and i’m so glad i checked it out. you say a lot of important and insightful things, and i really appreciate that you take the time to do so.

]]> By: Matt http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267848 Matt Thu, 28 May 2009 20:09:21 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267848 I feel the same way. I've been trying to bust into chicklit for years. I feel the same way. I’ve been trying to bust into chicklit for years.

]]> By: Chris DeLine http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267846 Chris DeLine Thu, 28 May 2009 19:53:23 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267846 From what I understand she was there, thought she only backed P.O.S. on a single song... Andrea explained things here: http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2009/05/is_indie_hip-ho.php Nonetheless, the issue remains. From what I understand she was there, thought she only backed P.O.S. on a single song… Andrea explained things here: http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2009/05/is_indie_hip-ho.php

Nonetheless, the issue remains.

]]> By: shellteezy http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267841 shellteezy Thu, 28 May 2009 19:35:14 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267841 good read. wanted to say tho, that dessa prolly woulda been on soundset w/ the rest of them doomtree-ers but she was at bella madre that weekend. apparantly there were contractual obligations that led to being able to only perform at one or the other. good read.

wanted to say tho, that dessa prolly woulda been on soundset w/ the rest of them doomtree-ers but she was at bella madre that weekend. apparantly there were contractual obligations that led to being able to only perform at one or the other.

]]> By: Sound Vertie http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267821 Sound Vertie Thu, 28 May 2009 17:32:57 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267821 see Milly July http://soundverite.blogspot.com/2009/05/milly-july-sneak-chamber-mixtape-summer.html see Milly July
http://soundverite.blogspot.com/2009/05/milly-july-sneak-chamber-mixtape-summer.html

]]> By: Erik T. http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267798 Erik T. Thu, 28 May 2009 14:37:39 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267798 When I was growing up, there was a decent amount of female emcee's that broke through to the mainstream: MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Ms. Melodie, Roxanne, Salt 'n Pepa, etc..., and say what you want about their message, their flow or their style, they at least made a dent in mainstream hip-hop culture, and were some real hip-hop female role models for young girls to look up to and aspire to be. Nowadays, it seems like females get shifted more towards the R&B side of the spectrum as far as music goes, or they get turned into (or choose to be) sex symbols or actors or both. And, like you were saying Kyle, they get used on the hook of a hip-hop track as opposed to actually delivering rhymes. Hip-hop certainly is a boys-club, and the overly misogynistic lyrics of a lot of emcee's only perpetuates that discrepancy, and perhaps keeps some women from trying to bust their way into that society. I think your points are valid and well-delivered, Kyle, and hopefully if more people and institutions heed your advice, we will have a wider spectrum of voices from all genders represented in the colorful world of hip-hop. When I was growing up, there was a decent amount of female emcee’s that broke through to the mainstream: MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Ms. Melodie, Roxanne, Salt ‘n Pepa, etc…, and say what you want about their message, their flow or their style, they at least made a dent in mainstream hip-hop culture, and were some real hip-hop female role models for young girls to look up to and aspire to be. Nowadays, it seems like females get shifted more towards the R&B side of the spectrum as far as music goes, or they get turned into (or choose to be) sex symbols or actors or both. And, like you were saying Kyle, they get used on the hook of a hip-hop track as opposed to actually delivering rhymes. Hip-hop certainly is a boys-club, and the overly misogynistic lyrics of a lot of emcee’s only perpetuates that discrepancy, and perhaps keeps some women from trying to bust their way into that society. I think your points are valid and well-delivered, Kyle, and hopefully if more people and institutions heed your advice, we will have a wider spectrum of voices from all genders represented in the colorful world of hip-hop.

]]> By: Inky http://www.culturebully.com/sexism-and-indie-hip-hop#comment-267797 Inky Thu, 28 May 2009 14:36:42 +0000 http://www.culturebully.com/?p=24434#comment-267797 A really good article, Guante. I'm passing this one around, for sure. A really good article, Guante. I’m passing this one around, for sure.

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