In 2003 Nelly released
a song titled Tip Drill, which sparked a huge controversy due to his music
video due to its misogynistic nature; which depicted women as sexual objections,
which was not only evident in the lyrics but also the main theme throughout the
music video. Just the opening line alone "I said it must be ya
ass, cause it aint yo face i need a tip drill" previews the
misogynistic theme of the song. One can’t help but think as to why someone
(Nelly) would create such a song. It brings to light the thought of
Hyper-masculinity and the role it plays in gender and sexuality in Hip-Hop. When
you picture nelly as a rapper, you do not expect a Gentlemen or one who conveys
himself in a respectful manner. A excerpt from Marc Lamont Hill’s article Scared Straight talks about how
"Top-selling rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Eminem, Ja Rule Dmx, Nelly
have all used terms like "Faggot" and "Homo" to disparage
gay and lesbian people as well as emasculate real and imagined enemies". (P.
385) Throughout Hills article he discuses homophobia and hip-hop and the
negative affects of outing another rapper has on their career. He even mentions
how some people tend to conceptualize the fact that if rappers do not participative
in anti-gay speech in raps (faggot, Homo etc.) they are possible homo
themselves. It is with this premise, that I believe rappers like nelly partake
in Misogynistic themed songs & music videos to not only portray their
Masculinity, but to contribute to the stereotype of a rapper which is hardcore,
and not soft; So treating a women with respect, you can be deemed soft or even
a “Homo-Thug”. Rappers do not want this association which I why I believe they
create their lyrics around the Hyper-masculine (Misogyny) themes.
 |
| Screenshot from Tip Drill (Credit Card Swipe Scene) |
His Music video earned him the title “Misogynist
of the Month” by Feminist
Majority Leadership Alliance
President Moya Bailey and Leana Cabral of Spelman College, which is
historically one of the oldest colleges for Female African Americans. Nelly
planned to do a bone marrow drive for his sister at the school, until the
females of Spellman met him with resistance. They testified that his “tip drill”
video is offensive and “dehumanizing” to black women and wanted to have a sit
down with him to discuss the lyrics and videos of his song, he wasn’t having it
and decided to cancel the drive.
 |
| Nelly fulfilling the Hyper-Masculine role. (Posing Hardcore) |
At the end
of the day, it’s an endless cycle of supply and demand. These rappers create
material that is appealing to the public. The majority unconsciously appeals to
the themes of misogyny and its positive correlation with hip-hop, otherwise
these artists would not be as rich as they are and their albums wouldn’t sell
platinum. We need to change our view as a society in order for the rappers to
not contribute to the stereotype of how Misogyny and Hip-Hop go hand in hand.
Rafe B.
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