Introduction The Pinkprint (2014), Nicki Minaj’s third album, is one of her most successful releases to date, displaying Minaj in her truest form of raw femininity and strength, two characteristics which, previously, had not coincided with each other in the rap industry. She uses traditional gangster rap’s objectification of women, especially those of color, in a way that promotes women and femininity in an empowering manner. The hiphop industry is one which is rooted in misogynistic views and rap has very rarely attempted to prove otherwise, often portraying women as less significant beings through objectification of their bodies. This misrepresentation of women has simply been accepted by the majority of listeners as seen by the increasingly
…show more content…
This feeling is “understandable, given the violent, sexist, homophobic, anti-gay, heteronormative, and male-centers culture of hip-hop portrayed in media.”. Rap has been rooted in these ideas for so long that there seems to be little motivation to change the way women are represented in the field. Yet, when artists like Minaj take to the industry, there is a sense of unity among women who understand Minaj’s motives and value her abstractness as a lone female artist. She shapes herself to be strong, independent, sexual women; all words which societal norms view as contradicting; however, “the ability of black women to define themselves individually can draw us together as a group and therefore contribute to a common goal of liberation” (My Crown Too Heavy, …show more content…
It is important to note however that she does follow a line of female rappers which uses the same sort of opposition to misogynistic views as a form to convey their message, such as Lil’ Kim. However, successful female rappers are a rarity alone. Thus, it is important to take the time to analyze and explain the ways in which female rappers such as Minaj shape female perspective, especially in black, female communities. The way in which she fights back against the patriarchal system in which rap was built on and does it by following her male counterparts in simply “using” the female body. Except, she does the same thing while completing a completely different goal. Her objectification, usually that of herself, is used in a way that gives women control and she, if not anyone else, exemplifies the free will a woman has over the
This feeling is “understandable, given the violent, sexist, homophobic, anti-gay, heteronormative, and male-centers culture of hip-hop portrayed in media.”. Rap has been rooted in these ideas for so long that there seems to be little motivation to change the way women are represented in the field. Yet, when artists like Minaj take to the industry, there is a sense of unity among women who understand Minaj’s motives and value her abstractness as a lone female artist. She shapes herself to be strong, independent, sexual women; all words which societal norms view as contradicting; however, “the ability of black women to define themselves individually can draw us together as a group and therefore contribute to a common goal of liberation” (My Crown Too Heavy, …show more content…
It is important to note however that she does follow a line of female rappers which uses the same sort of opposition to misogynistic views as a form to convey their message, such as Lil’ Kim. However, successful female rappers are a rarity alone. Thus, it is important to take the time to analyze and explain the ways in which female rappers such as Minaj shape female perspective, especially in black, female communities. The way in which she fights back against the patriarchal system in which rap was built on and does it by following her male counterparts in simply “using” the female body. Except, she does the same thing while completing a completely different goal. Her objectification, usually that of herself, is used in a way that gives women control and she, if not anyone else, exemplifies the free will a woman has over the