Although neglecting meaningful lyrics has become a common fad amongst Hip-Hop music today; there are a few words used that will never cease to exist. Words like Nigger, Bitch, and Hoe, which are commonly seen as derogatory words, can often be found in one of your favorite songs. From Rock to Pop, to R&B and Hip-Hop, these three words can be found in just about any genre of music that you can get your hands on. Yet, there seems to be a classic theme of these words being highly associated with only the Hip-Hop culture. Why is that?

While some may feel like these words hinder Hip-Hop from complete growth and progression, others feel as if these words are merely forms of creative and musical expression. To a certain extent I can agree with both. I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with using these words, however I feel that the over usage and repetitiveness of these words is where certain rappers go wrong. 

In my opinion, the people who generally have a huge problem with using these words in Hip-Hop don’t actually really listen to Hip-Hop themselves. Take for instance around the early 90s when gangsta rap was most prevalent. The majority of people complaining and campaigning against this music were upper class white individuals who most likely caught wind of a few songs that their own children were listening to. Now don’t get me wrong, there are African Americans who have a problem with cursing in Hip-Hop as well but instead of boycotting the music, they simply don’t listen to it. Doesn’t that truly solve the problem?

It seems at though the problem is not truly stemming from these words but rather from this Hip-Hop culture. Why is that? There are many Rock and Pop songs that use what people would consider derogatory and violent lyrics and yet they aren’t as typecast as Hip-Hop. Could it be that Hip-Hop is now a mainstream musical genre or this more of a racial issue? Many could honestly argue both.

Many even accuse rappers of causing the misogynistic and violent moment amongst Hip-Hop. Some of the lyrics found in certain artist’s songs can indeed be considered offensive to women and to African Americans as a whole. Does using the word “Bitch” in a song lyric directly objectify a woman, or does having her shake her ass in a video do that? Personally I feel that, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” Now I’m not saying I agree with calling a female a hoe or a bitch, or any form of the word. However, if she portrays that of a hoe or a bitch, I don’t see a problem with it. If it looks like a cow, smells like a cow, acts like a cow, guess what? It’s probably a cow!

But where do we draw that fine line between obscenity and creativity? This is an ongoing battle that has been highly debated for centuries; not only in just in Rap music, but photography, porn, and art in general.  So is this truly still an issue, or is this simply a thing of the past? I wanted to get other’s opinion about the usage of these words and so I asked a few questions:

1. DO YOU THINK THAT THESE WORDS HINDER HIP HOP MUSIC OR ARE THEY JUST A FORM OF MUSICAL EXPRESSION, WHY?

2. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RAPPERS OF ANOTHER ETHNICITY USING THE N WORD, WHY?

3. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO FEMALE RAPPER USING “BITCH OR HOE” AS OPPOSED TO A MAN, WHY?

4. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THESE WORDS ARE TAKEN MORE OFFENSIVELY IN HIP HOP THAN ANY OTHER GENRE OF MUSIC, I.E. POP OR ROCK?

Whether you choose to use the words or not, who are we to limit what people have to say. I’m a strong fan of creative freedom and free speech and so I’d be a hypocrite if I said that I think that using those words are wrong. These are all words I’ve used on more than one occasion, and before the end of this day, I’ll probably use one or more of them again. I’m human, as are we all. If you are being yourself do you, however if you are only using these words to portray an image that is not your own, that’s lame. So let’s see if everyone agreed with me. This is what the people had to say!



Tracy B.
International Academy of Design and Technology
Game Design and Development

“I think that all words just show your range. If all you know is nigga bitch hoe, it shows how uneducated and uncreative you really are…

The N word has never bothered me cuz it has lost all its power to offend in my eyes. Someone could say it now and i would be just as mad if they called me a pussy

 I hate double standards, everything should be across the board. you cant critisize one person then turn around and do what they did *cough cough* 50

Cuz nowadays rappers have no range, plain and simple. Its really no need for certain words when you have real talent

Lets be creative ppl. Fuck what you heard hip hop is dead and its cuz of our lack of originality, talent, and creativity.”

Gerald C.
FAMU
Economics minor in Business


” They hinder the musical world in general. They are used in place of more educated words, so people dumb down lyrics with the usage of these words cause they cannot come up with something better.
 Honestly, i could care less unless they are using it in a defaming way. Words are words…of course the connotation behind them are different. But i … think the N word is something that needs to be redefined, and needs to be used appropriately between races. Not just a word to say. Yes a big double standard. Men say it and its defaming or demeaning, women use it..and its just fine and ok. Why? Who knows…double standards are everywhere. Just dont use it at all in my opinion, come up with something creative.
Hip hop was/is used to change the state and mindset of those listeners. The words used are used for those who want to be changed and do something else A big issue in what hasnt been addressed yet. A simple thing about the N word as of recently. But other words..no. We need to address these words and see what other words we can use in the place of those words. Intelligence comes from within and so does creativity, if we cannot come up with something better than these words then we are doomed as artists to make a better word and create a better world with our music and art.”


Gerald M.
Morehouse College
Engineering


“No it’s not a hinderance, for certain folks. Missy, Eve, Common, Kim and many others have used the words very tastefully in my opinion. Especially on Missy’s *Da Real World* album. It’s the dumb Soulja Boys and the rest of the Southern rappers who give it a bad name IMHO. If Em said nigga, I wouldn’t care. That’s because there’s nothing derogatory behind it and he uses it like any other black person. I think it’s a case by case basis with all bad words…. There’s a double standard because the word bitch, like nigga, is a word that has been empowered by a certain group. When someone outside that group uses it, you have to see in which ontext they use it. I didn’t have an issue when Em used it in the song *Kill You* There isn’t a tolerance threshold across genres. It’s all taken in the same way everywhere. Folks would be just as offended in country as they might be hip hop. I don’t judge on the words you use, only the way you say the way you use them. I curse and I try to use it in a context that does not offend so who am I to stop another if it doesn’t hurt anyone else?”

Emanuel N.
FAMU
Broadcast Journalism

” When it is done excessively, yes. Yet all words are use as a way to express oneself. If a word like “hoe” or “bitch” fits your expression, use it. “Nigga” “Nigger” whateva…it is just a word and people have the freedom to use it if they please, no matter who they are. I view nigga for what it is, an obscene word just like cocksucker or motherfucker. Actually, I’ll be more offended being called a motherfucker because you are talking about my momma…and me fucking her to boot!!  Naw, I think women try to make it a double standards just like black people try to make “nigga” a double standard. At the end of the day, its just an obscene word… Because, at one point, hip-hop was edgy and misunderstood. Mainstream couldnt put a finger on our naps so they found it offensive. You fear what you don’t understand. The word “Nigger” never killed a black person. A gun, plywood, or rope killed a black person. People ,no matter their race, should be and are able to used the word. Like any other obscene word, the use of the word is a reflection of that person’s character. Stop trying to prevent people from show you who they really are. One example I like to use as far as using profanity in songs. Both the Sistine Chapel and Penhouse display nudity. It’s the presentation that makes the difference. Profanity is just words. It’s up to the artist if they want to use it in an artistic or perverted form.”


Matt V.
JMU
French

” I think the words promote ignorance among the younger generation. People are going to listen to music and popular music at that, and the more music with messages and words of this nature the more it will hurt us as a people. I’d like to see more rappers rapping about positive things. Chamillionaire made a great album following this and more …need to follow suit. Hip hop needs to back to its poetic roots, a la Talib, Mos Def, Public Enemy, etc. Personally, I think it’s stupid. No one should say it technically, but who are they trying to be? I said the word a few times in high school in the “endearing way” and it just made me feel awkward. The whole race thing to me is just getting old. It’s the dumbest thing in the world to talk about, in my opinion. I hope I see the day when it’s hardly brought up. There’s different breeds of dogs and they don’t seem to care but I digress.. Does the term “shooting yourself in the foot” ring a bell?
 Tracy hit it on the head. It’s all hip hop has become. It doesn’t make it right when rock stars do it, but every clown on the street is making a tight beat and rapping about this stuff. We need more songs like ” Biggies Juicy, yeah he curses, but its positive and I can’t remember him saying either , other than Diddy in the background hahaha.”

Raven N.
University of Cincinnati
History

“OK THE DISCUSSION HERE IS ABOUT THE USE OF WORDS LIKE NIGGA, BITCH, AND HOE OR ANY VARIETY OF THE WORD IN HIP HOP MUSIC 1. I think it started as just a part of musical expression. It was just a part of everyday language. 2.Honestly I catch feelings about it. It a double standard but that’s just the way it is….. Its not fair but whatever. 3. Personally I do. Some females call their friends bitches. I’ve never met a male who called a females friend a bitch in a friendly way….. unless they were gay. 4. Reallly I think people have it out for hip hop because its so popular. Also. because its supposedly a “black thing”. Its sound all conspiracy and creepy but its the truth. 5. If people dont like it then get the editied version from Wal-Mart. END OF DISCUSSION.:”