I think it was dream hampton who wrote about how women - especially women of colour - listen and appreciate gangsta rap styles and somehow listen 'beyond' what could be construed as misogynism. Let's be frank: the truth is that sexism is not deemed as offensive cuturally as racism, accuse a racist of racism and he will get defensive, accuse a male of sexism and it's laughed off. I always wondered about that. You'd think *anything* that holds back a human should be abhored. I am philosophical about it. It is what it is. We women deal with it. I didn't even pick up on the 'sexism' in OutKast myself. I think there is a story line there. What concerns me more is how women do not support each other. I guess it's ironic Andrew - a male - picked this up. ;)
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:15:43 -0000, FC2 Richards wrote: > >> >> Sorry to bust you open on this thread, but last time I >> listened to the words >> of hey ya it was all about waiting for the right > girl. >> My wife happens to >> think that is the sweetest song on the album just >> because of what it is >> about. She can look past the whole bitch thing, and I >> think most people >> can. If you don't like it, you don't have to listen > to >> it. Just choose >> what ever is the lesser of 2 evils. I chose to >> continue to listen to >> Outkast. > > ***don't get me wrong, i'm still listening to outkast; > coincidentally, my fiance's favorite song on the double > album is hey ya, and in my last live set i did sort of > a live remix of hey ya/i like the way you move admist > some of my own electro. i'm not hatin' on outkast. i > wasn't singling out any lyrics in hey ya, i was just > talking about outkast's lyrics in general--outkast came > up on the list and the lyric thing has always been > something i've been aware of when listening to them so > i mentioned it (i still remember a negative bit that > was said about lesbians in a song they did in the past > that featured erykah badu; people would say to me "hey, > i'm digging that new outkast song with erkyah badu" and > i'd be saying "yes, the music is great, but i wish they > didn't have that line in there about lesbians". i > can't even remember the song, but negative things like > that stick with me. i could say nothing, but i say > something because it bothers me. i don't see a need > for heterosexual men to talk about lesbians at all, let > alone negatively. i know my lesbian friends don't > appreciate lyrics like that). anyway, what jumps out > at me on first thought is the song on the new album > whose last 2 minutes riffs on "bitch...crazy bitch." > as you said, i can just not listen to it. i listen to > it, just cringe a bit when that bit comes on and let it > keep playing. (my fiance, however, skips that song > when she plays the album on her own; she says, "damn, i > can understand he's mad, but why does he have to say > 'bitch' so much in this song? the point was made 20 > 'bitches' ago!" i agree with her) different strokes > for different folks, i suppose; i realize we all have > different reactions to what is said in lyrics. as i > said below, i like outkast, i just wish they were more > positive lyrically about women and sexuality, that's > all. (not meaning to drag this thread on and on, just > wanted to clarify what i had said--pardon the > pun--below) :) that's all from me on outkast's lyrics, > i promise :) > take care. andrew duke > >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 6:22 AM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Cc: [email protected] >> Subject: (313) Re: hey ya? >> >> I'm under the impression that it came out promo-only > as >> a double A side with "I Like The Way You Move", both > as >> album cuts, ie no remixes or anything. I'm a huge fan >> of Outkast's music but I wish they would talk about >> women and sex in a more positive way. I just can't >> stand hearing men use the word "bitch" and continue to >> be apalled by how many men in hip hop and r n b >> continue to talk about lesbians in a negative way ie >> either "i'm so much of a man lesbians want me too" >> and/or "she doesn't want me so she must be a > lesbian". >> i still think much can be learned from prince, who >> talked about women and sex very very often, but always >> positively. Prince seemed to celebrate sexuality for >> the sake of it, whereas for Outkast and many hip hop >> and r n b acts, sexuality is talked about as a "power" >> issue of "men having power over women", which I find >> distasteful. Speaking of NERD, Pharrell seems to talk >> about women and sex positively. my CDN .02. Andrew > Duke > > out now: Environmental Politics http://and-oar.org > Take Nothing For Granted http://acidfake.tk > Sprung http://bip-hop.com > http://warprecords.com/mart/music/release.php? > cat=BLEEP12&fc_type=CD > *Canadian electronica album of the year nominee* > More Destructive Than Organized http://staalplaat.com > Highest Common Denominator http://pieheadrecords.com > Physical and Mental Health http://dialrecords.com > 74'02 (split with Hypo) http://tsunami-addiction.com > Waveforms: Halifax Electronic Music Compilation > http://cognitionaudioworks.com
