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I've noticed a pretty interesting trend in hiphop lyrics (yep, that ol' bin of misogyny that I still love!) lately. Let's see if you can spot it too!
I'm snatching all your bitches at my leisure--Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci"
Oh, that was your girl? I thought I recognized her--Drake, "Bedrock"
Why don't you run along and tell your girl to bring it here--Atmosphere, "The Bass and The Movement"
Look homie I ain't trying to force your hand/But Ima take your girl--Lil Wayne, "I Can Take Your Girl"
She was high on that pill so I fucked your lady--Too $hort on Wiz Khalifa, "On My Level"
Met a group of girls in a Escalade/They came with you and left with me--New Boys, "Backseat"
Lookin' for ya girl? She on my jock--LMFAO, "Party Rock Anthem"
If you slip I’m gonna fall on top of your girl--Pitbull, "Give Me Everything"
Notice anything? If the title of this post didn't totally give it away to your lazy summertime brain (no judgment), I'm interested in this emphasis on stealin' your girl for a few reasons.
Number one, it stresses that this girl/these girls were at one point yours, but now are mine, sexually at least...and this implies that girls are something of a possession to be proud of and fought over like territory. Number two, it underlines that these are girls we're talking about, not full grown-ass women with desires and choices of their own. Which is not to say that such full grown-ass women wouldn't choose to be with said girl-stealer, but that their agency is not even a question considered here. The only thing of import is that a possession has been taken from one dude by someone presumably more money and that this should grievously wound the first party's pride. One of the big proving grounds for toughness and manliness is clearly sex in both the hiphop and real worlds: being wanted by so many people or getting women without even trying (My swag hit on ladies unknowingly--Kanye West on Keri Hilson's "Pretty Girl Rock") is not just a self-esteem boost but a validation of worth and a means for proving superiority, especially if you managed to take what was previously his.
Further interesting is that the first lyric sample is from a female MC, so it would appear that she's absorbed at least some of the typical masculine posturing of emphasizing their bitches, their money, and their violent potential that most rappers have to do in order to be taken seriously for their craft. And it pisses me off. Lyrical skill shouldn't have to be packaged with gendered definitions of masculinity that focus on one's ability to objectify women, make money through illegal means, and hurt people, no matter how incredible the booty-dropping beat.
What do you think? Am I just overanalyzing, or does this emphasis trouble you to (even as, perhaps, you also drop it low like myself to such objectifying lyrics)?
Much love,
The Sheriff
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