5 days ago3 min read

A must for lust in women's rapping

By Liliana Chai Dec. 11, 2024

As a fan opens the latest music video for Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s 2020 collab, “WAP,” the artists burst onto the screen, strutting through a fashion runway. As the beat drops, the lyrics hit like a truck: explicit and utterly captivating. It is hard to tell whether this is just a music video, or a contest for the most outrageous display of sexual shock value.

Female rappers often receive undeserved backlash for the explicit lyrics and content they incorporate into their rap, a product of ingrained prejudices in the rap industry. While modern female rappers often lean heavily into bold displays of sexuality, it was not always this way. Lauryn Hill, an American rapper known for her neo-soul style, featured themes of female empowerment, romance and heartbreak on her landmark 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. Her songs “Ex-Factor” and “Lost Ones” dissect Black womanhood and feminism through Hill’s personal experiences.

With the maturation of the genre, women in rap truly hit the mainstream by using sexuality as a tool to reclaim power in a male-dominated industry. Rap traditionally challenges societal norms, including institutional racism, gang violence and crude topics like sex—topics women have been historically discouraged from discussing. As a result, when artists like Doja Cat embrace feminism through female sexuality, their music draws criticism for being overly explicit and female rappers often receive more backlash than women artists in other music genres.

“Conscious and lyrical rap may be more challenging for women to break into because showcasing sexuality often receives the most attention and popularity. This image has worked in the past, so the industry continues to favor it as an effective way to grab attention. Unfortunately, as a result, the women’s appearances are often put before their music,” Sophomore Shawnessy Cabi said.

Female rappers are under pressure from the rap community and music labels to create an image of themselves that can succeed in the industry, where rap about sex that achieves mainstream success is often labeled as “trashy.” Peppered with sexual lyrics, one of Ice Spice’s most popular songs, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” released in 2023, catapulted her to fame. On the other hand, avoiding sexual themes may help female artists gain respect from certain critics, but makes it much harder for them to break into the mainstream. This double standard unfairly boxes women into a narrow path to recognition, while their male peers are free to explore a wide range of themes—whether violent, explicit or mundane—without similar judgment.

Flo Milli, a rapper who went viral on TikTok with her first single “Beef FloMix,” noted in a New York Times interview that female rappers have to put significantly more effort into their appearances and performances to keep up with industry expectations. Female rappers should not have to constantly compare themselves to a desired image from the industry when trying to express what they want in their music. Alternative artists such as Chicago rapper Noname often buck this trend—she explores finding her identity in her album “Room 25” through bars on race and identity politics. However, as the independent artist’s work does not reflect audiences’ expectations of what a female rapper should rap about, it was far more difficult for her music to hit the mainstream. This added pressure is a burden their male counterparts seldom face to the same degree.

“Female rappers can succeed without relying on sexual themes, but the music industry often prioritizes the contrary narrative for profit, limiting their creative freedom. The music industry needs to push female artists for their talent and sound rather than their image,” Senior William Nguyen said.

The rap industry has the potential to move beyond the one-dimensional depiction of female rappers often centered on sexuality. As a platform that explores the complexities of human experience, rap should embrace a broader range of themes that reflect diverse perspectives. By reexamining its standards, the music industry can work toward creating space to support female voices—voices that not only express their sexuality, but also personal struggles, social empowerment and cultural identity.

About the Contributors

Liliana Chai is a sophomore at Leland High School. She is a staff writer for the 2024-25 Charger Account. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing piano, writing poetry and sleeping.

Lyn Kang is a Senior at Leland High School and the art director. She loves to draw digital illustrations, and this is third year in journalism. She likes to watch sport game and hang out with her best friends.