African-American Rap Effects

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Rap Music and its Modern Day Effects on African-American Women Nicole Martin Dr. Kim Little WGS 480 Martin Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine women’s roles in hip hop and the modern day effect on African-American women. One of the focus points will be the evolution of male and female African American rappers, emphasizing on their lyrical content. Also, concentrating on how rap lyrics transitions into objectifying Black women and their influences on young African-American women of today. The research is to understand why Black rap music displays Black women as objects and how some female emcees are presenting and image of feminist by taking the critique of their male counterparts to empower women of color. …show more content…

The lyrical content of rap was once mainly political, radical and a forum for change and empowerment. In today's society many rappers create music about virtually everything, including demeaning and degrading women. African-American women have become the focal point of many rap artists’ lyrics in modern rap. Women and female hip-hop artists are often highly objectified in lyrics that are potentially demeaning to the female gender, but many Black hip-hop female artists are trying to change the conception and stereotype of female rappers and women as a whole. Lyrics accompanied by videos assist in promoting words allowing audiences to understand and relate to the message rappers transmit vocally. Lyrical content complimented by videos has enabled rap music to influence and challenge the perceptions of African-American …show more content…

DJs are viewed as the center of hip-hop with their abilities to transform the style of a pre recorded record to entertain crowds. Disc jockeys such as DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell) and Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler) - known as “The Father of Hip Hop” and “The Innovator of Hip Hop,” are two of many influential DJs that help birth rap music. Herc began his career as a DJ in 1973 bringing forth the “break” in music beats which is when the percussion instruments play alone, making this the focal point of his DJ sets. Early MCs who accompanied DJs were known for simple spoken words such as “throw your hands in the air and wave them like you just don’t care” in order to keep the crowd engaged. Herc, known for his massive stereo system, could be viewed as the DJ architect, therefore allowing Grandmaster Flash to be perceived as the contractor, both serving as rap music’s developer. Flash was able to perfect the art of mixing two different records together on “the wheels of steal.” This form of art is known as “quick mix theory”; making scratching famous. Scratching is the ability to play a record back and forth using one’s hands to make a rhythm. Through their performances and promotions, DJs like Herc and Flash, helped rap gain

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