Running head: Masculinity & Hip Hop Masculinity & Hip-Hop

Running head: Masculinity & Hip Hop

Masculinity & Hip-Hop:

Sexuality, Money & Power

Keuris Torres

New Paltz University

Masculinity & Hip-Hop: (Sexuality, money, & power)

Masculinity has a very strong presence in hip hop culture. If one plays close attention to the lyrics in the majority of songs one would realize the influence that comes from where one lives. One can also notice sexuality, money, and power as important factors in hip hop culture. I will use masculinity as the starting point of what later transforms into strong opinions, ambition, and hunger. I ague that one can see the presence of masculine attitudes in hip-hop culture. In the following pages I will define masculinity and give background information about hip-hop and its culture.

Literature Review

Masculinity can be defined as the qualities traditionally associated with men. When growing up young boys are expected to be tough, or at least tougher then girls. Boys learn how to be tough from the adults who are responsible for them. From the toys that boys play with to the games they enjoy, we can see a trend of power. Men are more competitive and always want to be the best or first. According to wood “The themes of success translates not just into being good at what you do but into being better than others, more powerful than peers, pulling in a bigger salary then your neighbors, and having a more expensive home, car and so on than your friends.” From listening to hip-hop music we can also see a common theme of wanting to be superior to others.

As said by Julia T. Wood the most fundamental requirement of manhood is not to be a female. Boys are not suppose to show any signs of weakness, sensitivity, or vulnerability or they will be considered girly and or a mama’s boy. Another part about being masculine is being aggressive; men are expected to be dare devils and are expected to never back down from confrontations. Another factor to being masculine is also being sexual. Men are expected to be interested in sex, the more sexual partners a male has the more successful he is among his friends. Lastly males are expected to be self-reliant, men do not need no one. They can take care of themselves, are self-contained, and know how to control their emotions.

Hip-hop culture started as an urban movement in the 1970’s in the south Bronx. It primarily focused on rapping, beat boxing, and house parties. This movement quickly spread and became very popular in inner cities where young blacks were present. Many young black males use hip-hop as a way of expressing themselves, as an outlet to escape the reality. Many young black males who use rapping as an escape do so because they can speak about the struggles in their daily lives freely. There is a sense of freedom because they can speak about anything or share any story, so there are no restrictions. The freedom young black men gain through music is priceless in a society that is constantly marketing them as criminals in the media. Many listeners could relate or understand the message of the music which results in them being fans of certain rappers. Rappers can convey messages to audiences based on experiences along with what they see in their communities or they can also focus on making “hits” which is music that is catchy that includes talking about power, all the money they make, and the females who they get with.

Mickey Hess states “Hip-hop music is a black form, given the involvement of African Americans in its creation, and because its concepts of authenticity are so tied to the roots of its culture. Hip-hop authenticity is rooted in African-American rhetoric; its emphasis on the performer’s staying true to himself grows out of black rhetorical traditions such as testifying and bearing witness, in which the authority to speak is negotiated through claims to knowledge gained through lived experience.” I agree with Mickey Hess when he describes Hip-Hop as being associated with African American roots of expression together with the concept of the performer being able to stay devoted to himself. Crystal Belle conceptualizes “Black masculinity in hip-hop, there is a merging of intellectualism and the clichéd “thug.” I use the term thug as a play on the stereotypical representations of Black men and masculinity in the media that present the image that Black men are too aggressive, violent, and angry. Rappers often exploit this stereotype, playing into the gaze of the White mainstream imagination in order to make profit.” Along with men being naturally masculine because of the way they are raised, black males are also depicted in the media as being vicious and furious which feeds into the stereotypes associated with black men. Yet although there are stereotypes black rappers use it as fuel to entertain their audiences.

Methods

While researching different articles I looked for anything associated with the masculinity of men and the role black men play in hip hop culture. Black men are the face of hip-hop even though that hip-hop is not exclusively for African American males. Wood helps us understand the early stages of masculinity, we must be familiar with how gendering works in order to go on and see the presence of masculinity in hip-hop culture. Boys learn how to be masculine growing from observing an older male typically their father. Many boys are exposed to masculine ways but do not turn out to be rappers however they may show masculine behavior in their lives. I feel that Black males have twice the drive for success because of the disadvantages they are exposed to in America. From low-income communities to being portrayed in the media as criminals black rappers use music to withdraw from the constant conflict they encounter. Hip-hop is a very complex movement and has many factors lingering around, for example hip-hop is not only for black males, there are white rappers and female rappers who also use music as a way of expressing themselves or conveying a message. For that reason it is important to know that I am focusing on the masculinity within hip-hop. Rappers Meek Mill and French Montana are two familiar names in the Hip-Hop world; I will use one song from each of them to show examples of sexuality, money, and power.

In order for us to understand the lyrics in many of Hip-Hop’s music it is important for us to be aware and try to understand the perspective in which these rappers see the world that they live in. The inspiration for their music comes from trying to survive another day in neighborhoods they call home. These are communities where violence seems to be a part of their everyday lives since it is so frequent. When I say violence I refer to fights, robberies, assaults, and deaths. I will examine lyrics from both Meek Mill and French Montana.

Meek Mill whose birth name is Robert Rihmeek Williams is rapper from Philadelphia, PA. Meek Mill grew up in North Philly along with his older sister Nasheema; his mother who was a singe parent raised him. Meek Mill’s father was shot in an armed robbery when he was five. Meek grew up poor, his mother was a hair stylist who many times would steal from the local supermarkets to re-sell products for extra money. Meek has two uncles who were around when he was growing up. One of his uncles was a well know DJ in Philly in the late 1980’s, he was the one who introduced Meek Mill to Hip-Hop. Meek started his rapping career in his teenage years where he attended many rap battles usually carrying a gun for protection. When Meek was 18 he was arrested for illegally possession of a weapon when he was walking by the corner store. While being detained by police enforcement he was beaten up by the police leaving him with his lips and eyes swollen. In his music Meek Mill voices his struggle of growing up poor and constant daily survival. Meek Mill started with nothing so now that he has been able to gain wealth he brags about it in his lyrics.

French Montana whose government name is Karim Kharbouch is originally from Morocco. While in Morocco his hobbies included soccer and rapping. At the age of 13 his family moved to the South Bronx, French only spoke his native languages, which were Arabic and French. He learned English in high school and in the streets of the Bronx. Two years after moving to the Bronx his father wanted to move back to Morocco but his mother refused to go back because of the absence of opportunity. His mother became a single parent raising three boys; as a result she depended on welfare for financial support. French quickly became the breadwinner of the family making sure that he put food on the table for his family. In 2003, while leaving a recoding studio in New York French Montana was confronted by two individuals which resulted in him being shot in the head but was able to survive with treatment. French Montana’s music reflects the struggles he experienced growing up and his near death experiences.

Analysis

Now that we have some background knowledge on the early lives of these two individuals we can recognize sexuality, money, and power in their music. I will be examining a track called “Levels” by Meek Mill and “Shot Caller” by French Montana. The social construction of masculinity predetermines an idea that it is normal for men to have masculine attitudes and behaviors. It sets forth an idea that it is normal for men to act masculine, Men will be sexually inclined, self reliant, and competitive towards females because of what they learned growing up. When can blatantly see the elements of masculinity in Hip-Hop and can easily identify them and connect it to sexuality, money, and power. Hip-Hop serves as a tool and primary outlet for people who turn to music as an escape from the real world.

On the track “Levels” by Meek Mill we will analyze the hook.

“Lil nigga we don't rock the same clothes, fuck the same hoes

Cause it's levels to this shit

Lil nigga we don't drive the same whips, we don't fuck the same chicks

Cause it's levels to this shit

Lil nigga we don't get the same paper, you a motherfuckin' hater

Boy it's levels to this shit

Lil nigga cause it's levels to this shit

Lil nigga cause it's levels to this shit”

Meek uses the title of the track “Levels” to represent that he is in a higher income bracket and is able to obtain better clothes, females, and cars. In the hook by evidently looking at the language used we can connect it to sexuality, money, and power. The money he makes allows him to have an advantage over people who are not as successful. This relates back to masculinity and Men wanting to be first and better than others. His income allows him to be the man who is able to provide for himself. His heterosexual drive along with the power he has allows him to attract highly attractive females.

On the track “shot caller” by French Montana I will focus on the first eight lines of the second verse. When Shot Caller was released it became the hot new single with the most plays on the radio.

“Back on the scene, crispy and clean

LV the logo, even on the chain

Dopey funny style with a funky funky child

I do it Frenchy style I let the money pile

She ain't wanna talk till she seen the top off

Call me pimp homicide let her jump off

Feel the texture Rumble on Webster

Stand on my own not who I stand next ya”

French Montana tiles his track “Shot Caller” which represents him, as an individual with high status who is able to make decisions within is crew. On line two “LV the logo” refers to an expensive name brand Louis Vuitton that French has to represent his money. On line five the female is interested in the lavish life that French lives so to assure his wealth he has to show his expensive convertible car. The last line he indicates, “He stands on his own” which connects back to Men being self-dependent. Ultimately, we can notice the importance that wealth plays in the Hip-Hop world. Wealth is equivalent to power and grants rappers the flexibility of getting their hands on high price fashion clothes, cars, and alluring females.

Discussion

This allows us to agree that masculinity is present in Hip-Hop Culture. In Hip-Hop culture it is unquestionably important to demonstrate wealth because being able to provide for yourself is associated with one’s capacity. Hip-Hop is used as a way of expression however, once these individuals surpass others and are able to generate income from their music they celebrate all the things that they were not able to posses growing up. Masculine qualities is normal for men to possess because of it is what we learn growing up. However, some men demonstrate masculine qualities more than others, in Hip-Hop demonstrating masculine qualities is the model for being successful. Whether one is trying to illustrate an image on the listeners mind or trying to express a unique message there usually is a connection to sexuality, money, and power.