Degradation of Women in Hip Hop

Other than speaking about acquired wealth, the largest trend in rappers' rhetoric involves degrading women and almost dehumanizing them. Women are basically taken from being intelligent humans who have much to offer to merely objects. This trend has existed throughout much of hip hop history and has been a stable theme up until today. The article tends to put much of its focus on West Coast, and specifically Californian hip hop as a hot bed for important themes. Some of the biggest members of the community in California are also some of the genre's biggest offenders in degrading women. The book references NWA as large players in pushing hip hop forward and focusing on important social topics, but where is the mention of the groups' producer and writing force Dr. Dre's view on women? Although he left it off of NWA's biggest hits, on his "classic" solo album, "The Chronic," he pens a song called "Bitches Ain't Shit." The song offers up equality-based gems like the line "We flip flop and serve hoes like flap jacks." The entire premise of the track is basically that all women are are sexual objects that are only out to take your money (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/drdre/bitchesaintshit.html). But he's really socially conscious right? Another great example is the rapper at the pinnacle of success in the music industry this moment: Kanye West. West has penned an uncountable amount of songs praising his mother in large or small ways, but still has the audacity to name a song "Perfect Bitch." In my opinion, the truly sad thing is it is about his current girlfriend, and she is quoted as saying "I'm honored. I love it" (http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/08/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-perfect-bitch-song/). Granted, it is an ode to her, but regardless, being blatantly referred to as a bitch and being proud is not a good thing when your name is plastered as many places as Kim Kardashian's. While rappers do occasionally take a stance promoting gender equality, for the most part, rappers tend to put women on the level of the cars they so prize, which is pitiful. The degradation and objectification of women in hip hop culture is truly its greatest limiting force.