Diamond writes: ALL ABOUT RAP MUSIC AND ITS ORIGIN

Sexism in rap music .......

Attention to all women.

Hip-hop/rap music originated from South Bronx in New York City (US) by the young African American 'Ghetto Brothers' during the 1970s. Many of these teenagers were unemployed and found work as Disc Jockey (DJ) where they learned DJing techniques and developed some subculture of music elements such as rapping(MCing), rhyming, DJing/turntable, Beat-mixing, Beat-boxing, Slanging, Hip-hop fashion and styles among others to formed rap music.

But what do we forget when we talk about Hip-hop or Rap music?

In Hip-hop, misogyny tends to be much or explicit which support, glorify, justify, or normalize the
objectification, exploitation, or
victimization of women. It can range from innuendoes to stereotypical characterizations and defamations. Rappers shame women in music lyrics and videos, call them all sort of derogatory names such as
"BITCH" and "HO-es", SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN, PIMPS, PROSTITUTES, HUSTLERS, GOLD DIGGERS, GREEDY, DISHONEST, HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES ETC.

Reasons being that;
Rappers create explicit, violent lyrics against women to prove their authenticity as gangsters to show to public speculation suggests that they fear being considered "soft" and "fake"; therefore, they(Rappers) associate themselves with hypermasculine self-portrayals and hostile representations of women.

Another reason for the use of misogyny in hip hop music is that it has helped to gain rappers commercial success. Yes it gives them money because that is what the funs like and that is what they have seen in the society/country.

"The sexism we see in some hip hop music is a reflection of the sexism that we see in society as a whole" - Zeba Blay.

Rappers are trying to tell us that, what they are seeing about women is true and are trying to portray it back to the public as the way they saw it to strengthen the stereotype. (symbiotic relationship).

It shouldn't be news to Krobos or every woman out there that the ace rapper Sarkodoie descended heavily on women expecially the Krobo Women in his new rap titled *"JENNIFER LOMOTEY"*, because this is not the first time.

He is a good rapper I can't hide it, and whenever he grabs the mic he has a great story to tell(just look at inflation and the other nice tracks that he did)
But most of his songs are consistently misogynistic and borderline hateful towards women as revealed on songs like "Azonto Fiesta", "U go kill me", "Tonga", "Bounce" among others.

NB: Not all hip hop perpetuate sexism and It's not just hip hop that has a misogyny problem. All music does. Rap music isn't the only genre with degrading and demeaning lyrics about women.
Some other hip life tracks like "Pooley", "Bie gya", "Shashee woowoo etc from other artists carry heavy self-explanatory misogynistic lyrics.
It's not just the music, but who is making the music that seems to make it so offensive.

Rappers name and shame women everyday and we still dance to the rhythm of it without looking for a best solution for it. Now that his lyrics are focused on Krobo Ladies I can see noise everywhere. The stereotype about the Krobo women has been there for long without finding any best solution for it, there are no laws against it so people say whatever they want to say.

I can challenge you that Sarkodoie heard it somewhere without evidence and the little negative behaviour he saw about KROBO LADIES strengthen his believes to use it in his rap to portray to the world that KROBO LADIES are indeed cursed by Okomfo Anokye as slaves to the penis.
Therefore I call on all citizens, media men and women, chiefs, Ga Adangme, government, scholars to stand and fight against misogyny and violence in music in our Ghanaian society if we want real socialisation and standard for feminism. And it isn't to say that one form of misogyny in music is worse than other.

Ava Duvernay says......

“To be a woman who loves hip hop at times is to be in love with your abuser. Because the music was and is that. And yet the culture is ours".
@ava

#MisogynisticRapsMustStop

Richmond Nyarko writes.......