WAP, WAP, WAP
Why Cardi B needn’t explain why she made that sex anthem
eleased in August, the music video for WAP features raunchy lyrics, nipple fountains, snakes, tigers and choreographed dance. The hit track came under fire for its sexually explicit nature, raising questions about who role models are for the next generation of young women. Some claimed it ‘set the entire female gender back by a hundred years’. But most women lept to the artists’ defence, asking the age-old question, why?
Countless male rappers have released songs in which they boast about their sexual prowess and domination over women, yet few have received the same backlash as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion did for WAP. Youtube’s full of music videos that feature male artists and are just as racy yet no one comments on them because the naked (or at least, scantily clad) women are nameless extras rather than in starring roles. We don’t ask male rappers to explain why they make music about sex; if anything, we expect them to. Most of the best male rappers in history talk about handling WAP.
No matter how progressive we might think society’s getting, it still condemns women for their sexuality. It accuses us of being prudish and withholding sex, or being seductive and using our sexuality as a source of power or manipulation. These skewed views steer us away from seeing the reality that, just like men, women have a natural and healthy desire to be sexual.
The fact the media demonises women who are sexual does nothing but perpetuate the false dichotomy between the moral, repressed woman, and the one who’s corrupt and sexual. The reality is, women can be upstanding citizens and be simultaneously proud of their sexuality. Unfortunately, these arguments are nothing new to women in rap. Hip-hop has a long history of sexual anthems made by women rappers that have received critism and double standards.
Tweets declared WAP as evidence Cardi and Megan are anti-role models who are promoting sex in a vulgar way to garner the attention that comes from record-breaking views.
For some reason, we expect more ‘morality’ in music made by women than that of their male counterparts. We expect women to be decent role models, no matter who their audience is. That becomes even more apparent when female artists have children. (OMG, what will the children think?) Why is it that every time a female MC decides to vocalise and own her sexuality, people are concerned about their damn children and the sanctity of future generations of young women? Where was that concern when Lil Wayne had children singing about getting licked like a lollipop? It may be tough to hear for some, but musicians aren’t responsible for raising your children.
The bottom line? Women who reclaim their sexuality through their lyrics aren’t an abomination, nor will it contribute to the downfall of society. Although one thing’s for sure: cooking mac and cheese will never be the same again.