Should rappers stop degrading women?

Question

Especially African American women?

Answer 1

They should, for two reasons.

1) The lyrics are unnecessarily offensive (plenty of rap actually doesn't contain such lyrics) and
2) Such lyrics become extremely repetitive and tasteless.

The main reason WHY they are doing this, however, is because it is a tried and true method of getting sales. The ultimate power always remains in the hands of the consumer. If they don't buy music with offensive lyrics, said music won't be produced. (Companies like MTV also significantly impact sales, and often won't present material if it doesn't focus on sex, drugs, or violence. The rapper is really more of a middleman than anything else)

So, if people want "degrading" music stopped, they have to stop supporting degrading music through sales.

Answer 2

Why especially African American women?
Like it would be OK if they kept on degrading white or Latino women?
It's about degradation of women for which ALL women are familiar.

Answer 3

Yes, Yes and Hell Yes. I am so sick of hearing people say that rappers are rapping about what they see, so deal with it. No, you can put up with it but I won't. Hip Hop artists rap for only one reason and that is for MONEY. Do people realize that there was a time when rap music did not degrade women and had a positive message? I am guessing that many of these same people have never heard of "The Message" by The Furious Five, they were rapping about what was going on in the ghetto and "b*tch" or "ho" never came out of their mouths. I am sure every heterosexual male artist over18 has seen a naked woman and has had sex with one, but you don't hear R&B artists or country music artists singing songs like "make your booty clap and make your titties bounce". The black community already has it bad enough why are we trying to bring down each other with lyrics like that. The problem is that many of these rappers come from poverty and instead of trying to better themselves with an education they think about money and to them the fastest way to get money is through music, sports or worse drugs. They don’t realize how words can effect people all they know is that it is making their pockets fatter so why care. When I was young I use to say "if you aren't a ho you shouldn't be offended by the word ho." Well I wrong because lyrics like that only hurt our community and the way other communities perceive us. There is no one way this needs to be dealt with, but it needs to start with education. Like Russell Simmons said we have to end poverty in the black community, so when rappers do decide to make music they have better things to rap about.

Answer 4

No one should be degrading anyone else and I personally don't like it. But should one stop freedom of expression? I don't think so. And then, the woman they rap about exist, so it is not even fiction. They are rapping about what is reality for them. I'm just happy that I didn't grow up or live in those surroundings. If one doesn't like it, one does not need to listen to it. There is a lot of rap out there with decent language.

Answer 5

Why, no! They should continue to call women bitches and hos and treat them as sex objects! Why change?

Yes, OF COURSE rappers should stop degrading women, and the women they degrade in their videos should stop being "blinded by the bling," as I like to call it. Partying and having men buy your stuff may be fun, but that won't make them respect you.

Answer 6

As long as there are women willing to portray this image in the videos (and in real life -- these guys have plenty of groupies) and there are people (men and women) that are willing to pay to listen to it then it isn't going away. Women are degraded in many ways, Internet sites, restaurants (like Hooters), magazines, movies and television. It would not be fair to single out this group just because they are more vocal about it and get a lot of press.

Answer 7

LOL.. Have you not heard of Eminem? or M&M or whatever that fools name is? He used to rap for the longest time about how he pimp slapped his girlfriend, and how he wanted to strangle her, and a whole host of other violent lyrics directed towards women, but the women still loved him... Why? Because he was cute. So why is it that it was ok for him, and not for the other rappers? or does that show that no matter what women say about men, they are just as easily controlled by their hormones as we men are. The only difference is that he's rich, which adds to the appeal and attraction for women, because he has MONEY!!! The all mighty green.. the one thing every single woman cant live without, the goal of feminism, which is to control the money LOL I mean... afterall... isn't that what its all about? Otherwise, why complain about the fact that women get paid less than me do?

Answer 8

I think the better response would be for people to listen to non-degrading rap.

Try someone like Common instead of 50 cent.

Answer 9

Yes....it would be a good idea if the would stop since they forget the women they degrade also include their own mothers and sisters, aunts and grandmothers.

No because no one has hit them where it hurts....their pocket.

It's easy to stop that behavior....just STOP listening to and STOP buying their "product".

Answer 10

The rappers can express themselves in any way they want. Thats what freedom of speech means. Our society has built in checks and balances and when rappers stop making money from their "art" then they WILL change its content.

From my perspective, it's not the rappers who need to change, it is the consumers. I don't like it, I don't listen to it, I don't let my kids under 16 listen to it, and I don't buy it.