Will the Real Roxanne Please Stand Up? Track 1

Baddest person touch my hand first.

With a proverbial slap of the palm, The Game dropped the gauntlet– again. With a track titled, I’m So Wavy, The Game challenged fellow rapper Jay-Z to a battle. This wasn’t The Game’s first dis’ album and surely it won’t be his last but where did the “rap battle” on wax originate? Who dropped the first dis’ album? Hip-hop heads know the answer. They know that the concept of an “answer/dis’” album began with none other than Roxanne Shante‘ with a recording called “Roxanne’s Revenge.” Accounts differ as to why Shante’  recorded an answer record to UTFO’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” but one thing remains uncontested– Roxanne Shante’ dropped the original answer/dis record and would go on to inspire hundreds of responses. 

A lot of M.C.s today really know how to please Read more »

Will the Real Roxanne Please Stand Up?

Female heads of state, while not the rule, are less of an exception than one might think. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Argentina, Chile, Ireland, Panama, Europe, Nicaragua and Liberia, all boast what the United States has never had– a female head of state (past or present).

In a world where women remain oppressed in many countries, how is it that so many have managed to hold the highest office? Apparently, it is all about who you know, or in these cases, who you are related or married to. Read more »

Hip-Hop, Where is the Love?

How do I feel about hip-hop? What is there to be said about a materialistic, misogynistic, misdirected movement? The materialistic aspects are evident in the videos (the yachts, designer clothes, jewelry), the misogyny expressed through lyrics and scantily clad “video girls”. The misdirection? That’s where hip-hop culture went horribly wrong. Hip-hop began as an expression, the resistance to a mainstream culture that sought to repress and oppress the views of poor Blacks in America. Unfortunately, hip- hop is content to rest upon accusations against mainstream while refraining from legitimate internal critique. There was much excitement generated when rapper Kanye West proclaimed that, “George Bush hates Black people”. On its surface, Kanye’s comment incites anger and frustration for individuals who have felt wronged by the Bush administration. But even if one is inclined to agree with Kanye, there is another form of hatred that affects the Black community far more than any hatred Bush might have towards our community– hip hop hates women.

Under the auspice of racial solidarity, sexism within hip-hop culture has grown to unbearable proportions. Rap lyrics condone rape and prostitution while simultaneously reinforcing the idea that a Black woman’s value can only be found beneath her panties. Even in the earlier days of hip hop, the message was the same. It was just said a little more nicely. The question is not how long will hip hop subjugate us, the question is–will we continue to put up with being subjugated? Supporting my people does not require that I sit idly by while my sisters are disrespected on media outlets that do more to support the rights of animals. Being “down for the cause” does not necessitate my dancing to the music of a man with a history of having sex with underage girls (for goodness sake– the man married a 15 year old!) We don’t have to prove our Blackness at the expense of womanhood.