Reminder: Assignment 3 or 4 is due today, May 7th. Email it to me no later than 11:59 pm.
Jillian M. Báez, “En mi imperio”: Competing discourses of agency in Ivy Queen’s reggaetón, 2006.
Music in Global America
Brooklyn College, MUSC 3101, Spring 2020
https://genius.com/Nicki-minaj-and-labrinth-majesty-lyrics
For this response I have chosen the song “Majesty” by Nicki Minaj featuring Labrinth and Eminmen. Nicki minaj usually makes music that would conform to the categories of female rap but this one does not. There are 3 people in this song and even though it is Nicki’s song she has one of the smaller parts. It may seem like it would conform to the categories of female rap because it repeats “whatever you say mr.s majesty” over and over again in the lyrics but then the song shifts. Throughout Eminmen’s verse he consistently talks about how rap used to be better and it needs therapy to get back to how it was and he’s gonna be the one to do that. An example of this would be where he says “ I told her, bitch now, just hold up, that’s why rap needs a doctor our genre’s lymph nodes are swole up its time to check it for strep or some tonsillitis.” “Now, take a ride with me, hop into my time machine i’ma take the driver’s seat as i thrust into hyperspeed.”
Gabby,
I think you make some good points and I would also agree that this song does not conform to Rose’s categories. I think “whatever you say Mrs. Majesty” could be interpreted as Nicki being referred to Mrs. Majesty and therefore putting her in a high pedestal, but it doesn’t feel like enough to back that point up. Throughout Nicki’s verses, she raps more about herself and having the “money and the power” but never really addresses how she’s better than her male counterparts. Eminem does rap about him being superior and even says the line “the queen and her husband last thing you’re gonna wanna be is our subjects,” but is the line effective if it comes from Eminem and not Nicki? I don’t think it has the same effect.
From Kelise King:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7GW8TYCEG4
The song I chose was “Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj ft. Drake. In this song; Nicki talks about coming up and where she originated. Nicki says “Young Money Raised me” while drake says “Young Money the Mafia”; this implies that both Nicki and Drake share similar ties and there’s no challenge of authority between the two. Both Nicki and Drake rap about cherishing and accomplishing the moment when they became famous.
I think although the whole song was not about challenging men there were definitely lines where Nicki’s lyrics could be interpreted as an authoritative stance that challenges men. For example she says “In this very moment I’m king. In this very moment I slay Goliath with a sling.” So here in 2 instances she is putting herself into characters that are seen by society as male figures. David was a boy in the story of David and Goliath and a king is defined as “the male ruler of an independent state”.
From Shannel Mercado:
Though it was a bit of a challenging exercise, I think the song “Heavy Metal and Reflective” by Azealia Banks does not conform to the categories theorized by Rose. In this song, Azealia Banks raps about being confident in her skills to the point where her female counterparts can’t compare. She is very witty in terms of wordplay like in the line “I be V.I.P. I been knew the cheddar you be the guest list” which is pretty self explanatory. Though Azealia Banks raps about self empowerment, she is not addressing nor challenging
the male representatives of hip-hop. Instead, she is challenging other female rappers and essentially belittling them. This isn’t something unusual between female rappers unfortunately, but it does bring up some questions. Does competition between female rappers further validate Rose’s categories or undermine them? Female rappers are seeing each other as competition and as a result may make male rappers irrelevant, however, this competition can also impede female rappers from reaching the same level of dominance as male rappers.
Heavy Metal and Reflective – Azealia Banks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQOD8M6Okoc
Hello Shannel,
I agree with your song choice because I believe you are right when it comes to Azealia Banks challenging other female rap artists as opposed to other male rappers. Unfortunately, females can tend to be blind sided by always trying to be on top/ the best instead of coming together as one. I believe that if females stick together they might be able to “run the world” as Beyonce would say. If females would come together in the music industry, it is possible for them to be as strong as the males in the industry. Do not get me wrong, I believe that one female can be as relevant as all the males in the industry but there is also enough room for many more to be involved.
The song “Everything is Everything” by Lauryn Hill is a good example of a song that does not conform to the three categories of feminist rap. She does have lines uplifting herself and comparing herself to royalty but she does not do so in comparison to men or anyone specifically. The main point of the song is that life is going to go on and what is meant to be will eventually be despite the hardships a person may face. The chorus says, “Now everything is everything,What is meant to be, will be.After winter, must come spring.Change, it comes eventually” which is a message that applies to everyone which she stated in the beginning of the song. There is no talk about being sexual, going against men, or trying to challenge men at all. The song was a combination of self empowerment and encouragement to all that balance will be restored and that if something is meant to be it will happen.
“High rises”, by CHIKA, does not conform to the three guidelines for feminist rap. This song is more focused on the story of a young African American girl making her way through life. It does not directly challenge men as representatives of hip hop or challenge male dominance in a sexual sense. It also is not directly about women’s power sexually or otherwise. It does empower people by showing a journey of self acceptance. The artists talks about overcoming struggles and self doubt while breaking away from the norm of female rap songs
In response to this video, I have chosen to answer your first question in regards to Ivy Queens authenticity. While looking back to Ivy Queens music and her transition over the years, I believe that she is indeed authentic. She was an upcoming artist who grew up in poverty and transitioned to being rich and famous. She was exposed to new things, maybe things she never heard of or experienced. Some may say that she is “copycat” but I don’t find this to be true because even though her physical image has changed her content still dominated in female empowerment. If you compare Ivy Queen to other latina artists her image is still unique and there are not many similar artists. I also believe that Ivy Queens transition makes her well rounded and unique because not many individuals can transition the way that she did. She went from rapping with other male artists to being a solo star sensation. Thus, this goes to show that a lot of her fans supported her and liked her content.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvvRNPOJPH0
I found that Battle Cry by Angel Haze is a rap that does not conform to Tricia Rose’s three categories of feminist rap. Haze’s Battle Cry is a song about overcoming your inner struggle and your past demons. Angel Haze wrote this song not to challenge men, or diss men’s rap skills, or to talk about the identity of women, or to celebrate women’s sexual prowess. Battle Cry very much like its name is a victorious song. A song about making it through your hard times and working to be the best version of yourself no matter what. The message in Angel Haze’s song transcends gender because everyone can relate to struggling in life one way or another. This song is powerful because the sincerity of Haze’s lyrics shine through. The song is very much based on Angel Haze’s own life and struggles. Battle Cry is an uplifting and empowering song that for me is a demonstration of how Rap can be more than money, degradation, or drugs.
From Alexia Almonte:
I feel like Ivy Queen’s authenticity is a little bit challenged as
time goes on. I think the reason why she did change her image was to
stay relevant. I feel like Ivy Queen will always have a very important
role in the beginning of female reggaeton rappers, and she made it
possible for other female rappers to be in the industry.Though, as
time goes on, she had to change to be accepted. I do not think that
takes away from the work she did and how she rapped about things that
were relevant to her. Though, with new people in the same field as
her, and people always thinking she needed to change, she did.
I think that part of the problem is that women will always be
critiqued on what they do in the industry. If they are unique and have
a look that doesn’t fit into what society has set up, people will try
to bring them down. Then if a woman tries to conform to be more
accepted, people will think she’s a sellout. I feel that there is no
real way to win. Media and society does not like to see a woman who
is confident in just being herself, which is why they try so hard to
make women change their image or belittle women who do change their
image. It is really a never ending cycle.