Rap Sh!t- Grappling with the love of hip hop and being a Black Woman
I just concluded the second season of Rap Sh!t and I came away with so many feelings. Excitement for the group to grow notoriety and climb to the heights of their dreams. But also scared for what they might have to endure along the way to get there.
Rap Sh!t is Issa Rae’s follow up show for HBO after the amazing journey of her breakout show Insecure. Rap Sh!t follows Shawna and Mia, two up and coming rappers from Miami navigating the music industry while also learning lessons about love, friendship, pleasure, race, and business. And can I take a minute to talk about pleasure? One of the most captivating elements of this show is how unapologetic Shawna and Mia are about getting pleasure. It’s refreshing to watch a show about women who know what they want and just go for it.
Even though Mia and Shawna have very different approaches to their art, they both seem to be confronted with the same misogynistic beast that is the rap industry. Another thing I find captivating about this show is that it’s an enactment of the paradox Black women have with their love of hip hop and oppression. Growing up, hip hop was, and continues to be, a part of my life’s soundtrack. Unless you make a point to only listen to a specific group of conscious rappers, you run into misogynistic themes and language in most lyrics. From women being referred to as Bitches and Hoes to constant tropes of gold digging, opportunistic, uneducated females that need to be put in their place, etc. This is classic Misogynoir.
What is Misogynoir?
A term coined by Black feminist writer Moya Bailey in 2008, misogynoir is a term used to describe the intersection of racism and sexism directed specifically at Black women in pop culture. The term combines two words: "misogyny," which means the dislike or prejudice against women, and "noir," a French term for Black. Misogynoir reflects the unique challenges and discrimination Black women face; often resulting from the harmful stereotypes and biases that show up in music, film, and television.
You see this play out clearly in episode 2, when Shawna decides to participate in a game backstage for a chance to get closer to rapper Lord AK, the main attraction of the tour she and Mia are on. Another rapper from his entourage, Gat, uses the game as a gatekeeping tactic, asking women questions of various difficulty, basing them on his attraction to the participant. Shawna is insulted by his game and challenges his assumption that women don’t know about hip hop. He then gives Shawna the most challenging question to name every member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Of course Shawna confidently and correctly delivers, leaving Gat embarrassed and unwilling to give Shawna the credit she deserves. Instead, he makes an offensive gesture of male dominance by repurposing a champagne bottle as a phallic representation of his penis and explodes it all over Shawna’s face and body. The crowd shockingly laughs and quickly moves on from the uncomfortable scene. It was hard to watch. This was a complete manifestation of how sexist men react to women who dare to assert their power. Something as little as the power of knowledge was enough for Gat to assault Shawna for all eyes to see. Like it was some kind of lesson for her to know her place. And the response from the crowd is further evidence of misogyny’s prevalence and acceptance in Black communities.
So where does that leave women like Shawna, Mia, and even myself, when we love a genre of music so complex and central to Black identity, yet a tool to our continued oppression?
It means we have to charter our own path. Shawna’s rise to redemption at the end of the season is when she gets in a social media beef with Gat about his authenticity. In the wake of witnessing Lord AK’s suicide attempt, Shawna is working through her trauma by speaking to a greater audience who recognize her talent for clapping back and speaking truth to power. Other Black women rappers come out in support of her and validate her experiences of misogynoir.
I really look forward to watching how Mia and Shawna continue to break down barriers to their success in the face of sexism within the industry. It’s a reflection of the state of hip hop today where Black female rappers are dominating the charts and reaping all the reward from the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj, and most importantly City Girls, who the show is inspired by. People stan for these women who receive tremendous support from fans when they publicly express the injustice they face in this historically male dominated industry.
Does Shawna’s story resonate with you? You’re not alone and speaking to a therapist about your experience can be a great first step to gaining the language to advocate for yourself. Spaces like my therapy group for Black Millennial Women is a place to work through those experiences with other women who get it.
You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps:
Contact me to schedule a 15-minute phone call to see if we could be a good fit
Meet with me, a skilled therapist for your first session
Start feeling more grounded in your career and personal life!
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED AT RESTORITY SPACE
At Restority Space, I offer a variety of services in support of your mental well-being. I offer the care women may need when it comes to their mental health online in both New York and New Jersey. I offer Individual Therapy to help women cope with their anxiety, depression, unhealthy relationships, and any major life transitions. I also provide services for those struggling with a breakup. I also curate weekend and international retreats for Women of Color to heal, reset, and build community. My group services include a Therapy Group For New Mothers and a Therapy Group For Black Women.