Does the Lyrics of Sexyy Red and Glorilla hurt Black women and girls?

Shirley Jones Luke
3 min read3 days ago

Hip Hop and Women have always had a love-hate relationship.

Photo Source: Grammy.com

Photo Source: Rolling Stone.com

When women entered the rap game, their presence was met with mixed reviews. I remember when Salt and Pepa came on the scene as a little girl. I watched them with wide brown eyes perform on television. I saw them as rappers who were also beautiful and confident. Their bravado emanated through their music and videos. I wanted to be just like them.

While I was already a fan of rap music, Salt and Pepa heightened my interest. They informed the male-dominated genre that women had something to say in Hip-Hop. After that, I followed the careers of Lil’ Kim, Eve, Queen Latifah, and MC Lyte. The 80s and 90s saw the rise of the female MC. Those women and many others paved the way for women in Hip-Hop in the 21st century.

Today, my favorite artists are Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and Megan Da Stallion. These women have elevated Hip Hop even further. Their lyrics are fast and strike like swords. Their words tear into their opponents, leaving them a bloody mess. The next generation of female MCs has entered the…

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Shirley Jones Luke

Shirley is a poet and writer. Ms. Luke enjoys reading, fashion and travel. She is working on a manuscript of her poems and an essay collection.