SEX, SEX, AND MORE SEX…

A Few Things You Should Know About WAP

• WAP is for Mature Audiences….umm because there’s partial nudity and of course the infamous “P word”. Yes, ladies and gents, Pussy is back on the menu! And both Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are serving it up deliciously! Giving it to us, not only WET but GUSHY too! Which is also the censored version of the single made for radio rotation and YouTube.
  • WAP received 26 Million downloads in under 24 hours. That’s over a million views per hour!!!! As of today, that number totals 126 million and counting. Which begs the question…Does everybody love “Wet Ass Pussy”? And the answer is…Yes! Men want to have some and woman want to own it.
  • So….before any parents begin their shenanigans…WAP IS NOT for children!
• WAP is Provocative…to say the least! An Afro-Latina and an Afro-American woman on screen in all of their voluptuous-ness!! Quite provocative indeed! WAP’s Lyrics include dominating men, sex, money, role playing and even a little BDSM. Which brings me to say…
• WAP is Empowering! I understand this is quite a controversial statement. But if you are a grown-ass woman, who is independent, embraces her sexuality, and enjoys being spoiled by a man, then this song is for you! And fellas, if you’re a man who likes to spend money, and you want a grown, assertive, woman on your arm, then the same applies. Everyone else please be quiet, WAP isn’t for you! Because at the end of the day…..
• WAP is Entertaining! As much as you may want to, you can’t look away. It is Visually Stimulating! And colorful in every sense of the word! The titillating video, directed by Colin Tilley, displays magnificent color variations, wild animals, abundant snakes and gorgeous wigs that are ABSOLUTELY ON POINT! It’s a sexy video starring two of the hottest female artists on the charts right now. How can you not be intriqued and entertained? Especially as we see co-directive creator Cardi B, extend her reach towards emergent artists, requesting cameos by other young women (who also embrace their sexuality) such as Sukihana, Normani, Rubi Rose, and Mulatto. Let’s not forget a brazen appearance by Kylie Jenner, who herself has become a billionaire by branding and commanding her sexuality.

Now that all the fluff is out of the way, let’s get into what makes me slightly uncomfortable about WAP.

It’s hyper sexualized. Is there a difference between sexy vs pornographic? or Sensual vs slutty? At times, the video views as a trip to a strip club or burlesque show. There is basically nothing left to the imagniation. There is however, an abundance of large butts and huge breasts. Which begs another question? Is this another form of impossible beauty standards imposed towards women? The impractical, and now condemned, European style had some women starving themselves to become a size zero. Now, we’ve gone full tilt in the opposite direction, and young women are booking appointments with plastic surgeons all across the country and out of the country as well. Some have even tried dangerous back-alley procedures, with deadly results, just to obtain a voluptuous body. But this appreciation or exhibition of shapely bodies isn’t anything new. It is slightly reminiscent of practices that displayed and emulated the natural pear-shaped body of our African ancestors. Take for example, the story of Saartije Baartman. An African woman put on display in London from 1810-1815 because of her protruding buttocks etc. The article states invaluable points, such as the preference and appreciation of large body types by particular African cultures, the envy of European women who did not posess this form of body shape, and It also touches on the sexual victimization of African women during this time (both in Europe and America). Read the full article here https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f8f9/3851475ba3f91cbaf1f6bb6cad513b3105fb.pdf

It is completely unfair to put these harsh societal atrocities on Cardi B and her music video WAP. Especially since active feminism as opposed to theorhetical feminism holds different standards for women of color vs white women. The main point of feminism is for a woman to do whatever she pleases for whatever reason without labels and negative judgement, right? Or we can go to the dictionary for the actual meaning of feminism–the advocacy of the liberation of women from inequalities and subservient status in relation to men, and from attitudes causing these. Therefore, I am inclined to support any woman (woman of color in particular) in any endeavor that places them in a domineering position. So while I am fully supportive of her video, and also fully appreciative of all the hard work that went into her project, I still have a few questions and concerns.

Additionally, I am inclined to question the state of female artists in the rap game. Is this the only direction female rap artists are headed? Where sex is primary and rap is a by-product? Cameos made by the afore mentioned emergent rappers all have a similar sexualized style. Sex, money and sprinkles of violence seem to be the popular modus operandi for this new generation of female artists. I am sure there are conscious female rappers out there, however, their music hasn’t been streamed or promoted to this extent. Is that an accident or intentional? Are we at an age where there is no demand for conscious artists or will the public only consume what is laid before them? I’m not sure if we will ever see the likes of MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot or Da Brat again. It has just become old school music we play while our kids are in the car. But everything has an arch, I assume. Out with the old in with the new. Lil Kim, Trina, Foxy Brown have paved the way for the NIkki’s and now the Cardi’s and the Megan’s, Mulatto’s and the Sukihana’s. I’ve watched as we have become bolder and bolder in our music and music video’s. And I know I run the risk of sounding like an old lady yelling at the young “whipper-snappers” with a raised fist in the air; But I would be blind not to point out the changes in hip-hop over the last 25-30 years. Again, it is extemely unfair to put these societal changes on the shoulders of these new young female artists. After all, this is the environment they’ve grown up in. And they are a product of that environment. It’s capitalism at it fundamental core. SEX SELLS!! It’s the American way!! The sale of goods and or services for money, is as American as apple pie. How is a young woman supposed to make it out of poverty? Talent alone is great, but it’s a competitve market out there. So if we add on loads of sex then we are sure to win, right? Of course we are, who can argue with results. Sex has been used by marketing execs since the dawn of time. So why rehash an age old recipe that produces sure-fire results? On average, WAP garnered over 1 million views per hour, and that is no easy feat. Therefore, I cant help but root for Cardi B and other rising artists like her. While I do miss my ‘conscious-rap’ mainstream female artists, I greatly enjoy watching the new generation finesse and manipulate a system that was originally designed to exploit and demean them anyway. But instead of lying idly by, these young woman are grabbing the reins and taking full control of their sexuality as well as the resulting wealth they amass.

Whatever you decide to take away from WAP is entirely up to you. Love it or hate it, its here!

If you enjoyed the official WAP Video, check out the animated uncensored WAP Lyric Video directed by Yasha, comprised of sexually suggestive fruits, and other various objects below.