Masculinity In Hip-Hop Music

In the patriarchal world of hip-hop music, a vast majority of artists customarily gravitate to forms of expression that center around the objectification and degradation of women. According to Tia Tyree and Michelle Jones, “many have characterized the entire genre as negative” (Tia Tyree & Michelle Jones 54). The substantial presence and rampant usage of misogynistic themes is so evident, the disparaging criticism that hip-hop music receives is perfectly understandable. Negatively labeling the entire genre of hip-hop, however, as solely crude and objectionable without acknowledging artists that strive to break traditional misogynistic boundaries is overcritical. Through the endeavors of several artists such as Drake and Bryson Tiller, hip-hop’s nature has undergone a significant ideological shift from masculinity and bravado to emotionality and introspectiveness. The music created by Drake and Bryson Tiller has not only contributed to deconstructing hip-hop’s “negative” image, but has also contradicted how black masculinity is portrayed in hip-hop music. In various ways, Drake and Bryson Tiller have succeeded in breaking traditional misogynistic hip-hop boundaries. In doing so, Drake and Bryson Tiller …show more content…
Misogyny, consider by many critics as an inseparable aspect from hip-hop, is present in hip-hop music today more than ever before. Despite misogyny’s substantial presence in hip-hop music, not all hip-hop songs degrade women. In fact, there is an alternative portrayal of women in hip-hop music, particularly one that opposes misogyny and promotes philogyny, which is “fondness, love, or admiration toward women” (Tia Tyree & Michelle Jones 57). Unfortunately, for whatever reason, critics have overlooked and discounted new era hip-hop artists’ efforts that contradict the portrayal of women with negative stereotypes in misogynistic hip-hop music. Tia Tyree and Michelle Jones