I have never been familiar with the rap genre, let alone Chicana/o rap. All I ever really knew was that the genre was developed for and by underrepresented communities of color. In chapter three of Next of Kin, author Richard Rodriguez talks about the development and impact that Chicana/o rap has had towards various cultures and generations. Chicana/o rap has not had much commercial success mainly because artists within the genre are not major names such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and Tupac Shakir (Rodriguez, 101). A lot of times people even question this type of rap because they do cannot relate to its message or significance. Rodriguez also makes the argument that although Chicana/o rap was supposed to bring awareness to the marginalized community, it still carries strong misogynistic messages and bashing towards individuals within their own group. Although I do agree with what he is trying to say, I feel like the ‘mainstream’ rap tends to do the exact same thing. In modern days, both ‘mainstream’ rap and Chicana/o rap have distanced themselves from the original social justice topics that people would use to communicate suffering and mistreatments among underrepresented communities. Women are often referred to in a dehumanizing matter so I do not know what makes both types of rap any different. If Chicana/o rap wants to be more successful and memorable, then I think it should be more inclusive and political towards events that are going on in our society today. Maybe there will be a change in audience and attention. Why would the mainstream be anymore appealing than the other? Why do you think it is so common (AND ACCEPTED) that rap focuses on women in such a negative way? Do you think people would find rap less appealing if it got more political and serious? What does the audience find so amusing about homophobia and sexism within rap music? Do you think the audience even understands what homophobia and sexism is and how it negatively affects our society?
The Chicano Family
CHS 486 – Cal State University Dominguez Hills
Hi Gabby,
I feel the same exact way. Rap and Chicano/a Rap do dehumanize women and devalue them as well. I do not understand why women accept it, not only women by society as well.
Hi Gabby. So, I’m not a big fan of rap. I hear it once in a while when I’m with friends who love to listen to it. However, I am aware of the messages rap music instills on the rapper’s audience.
I agree with you when it comes to rap music portraying women and homosexuals in negative ways. But, I do know that rap music industry has had rappers who have written rap lyrics that relate to issues in society that affected them at the time of production. For instance, N.W.A. (Ice Cube’s rap group in the 90’s) rapped about issues that the black community were going through at the time. Still, rap music has changed throughout the years and has resulted in having men rap about women’s bodies in a negative and appropriate ways.
Hello Gabby,
I feel like rap music isn’t any different from news channels, BAD and VIOLENCE is what sale, and what people want to hear and see. T.I the hip hop recording artist recently had an interview on the daily show with Trevor Noah the T.V host, and it was very interesting how Trevor asked T.I, if he was mad about the violence against the black community and if he supported black lives matter why did the music he is part of seems to promote violence and disrespect against the police. T.I responded that artist usually sing about their environment and what they feel at the moment about whats going on. He stated that instead of making the artist change their lyrics, we must first change the environment around the artist.
This got me thinking about rap in the Latino community.
I personally don’t think that women are not happy about the way they are described in these rap songs.
But artist will always present these music because its what attracts audiences and what makes them money.