Bitch: A word reclaimed

We had a little bit of debate about the use of the word bitch in rap and rather it can even have a positive connotation or not. I personally don't mind the word in the use of a joking way where its blatantly obvious or tossing it around. But once you get serious it can definitely be insulting and I understand some people do not even like the use of the word. So bare with me as I dissect the use of it in hip hop and in relation to women.

So we all know that the first definition of the word when looked up in Webster's dictionary is a female dog and honestly what girl really wants to be called a dog. This word can even be used towards men often by other men and here it is an insult upon their masculinity calling them a weak woman, which also is another insult upon women calling them weak.

Queen Latifah believes however that the word does not need to be taken at face value as it always has been. She is a part of the reclaimer group that Cheryl Keyes speaks of in Empowering Self, Making Choices, Creating Spaces: Black Female Identity via Rap Music Performance. Queen Latifah says,

"It's not what you're called but what you answer to."

You are the only one who can really decide what people can call you and rather you give them the power to. The word is problematic in society today depending on who is using it, how its used and to whom the word is actually referring (Keyes 271).

"I don't really mind the term.... I play around with it I use it when my home girls like, 'Bitch are you crazy?' Bitch is a fierce girl. [Or.] 'That Bitch is so crazy, girl.' You know, that's not harmful [But.] ;This stupid bitch just came down here talking...,' now that's meant in a harmful way. So it's the meaning behind the word that to me decides whether I should turn it off or listen to it." - Queen Latifah (1993)



Nicki Minaj says she is often called a bitch but she takes it as a compliment because to her that just affirms her power and hard headedness as a woman, yet she knows people often mean it in a negative way.

"When I am assertive, I'm a bitch. When a man is assertive, he's a boss. He [is] bossed up. No negative connotation behind 'bossed up.' But lots of negative connotation behind being a bitch.  Donald Trump can say, ‘You’re fired.’ Let Martha Stewart run her company the same way and be the same way. [People will say] ‘f**king old evil bitch!’ But Donald Trump, he gets to hang out with young bitches and have 50 different wives and just be cool. ‘Oh, Donald, we love you, Donald Trump!’... When you're a girl, you have to be everything, You have to be dope at what you do but you have to be super sweet and you have to be sexy and you have to be this, you have to be that, and you have to be nice. It's like, 'I can't be all those things at once. I'm a human being." - Nicki Minaj (2010)

Despite this though Nicki uses the word bitch repeatedly in her music referring to both herself (sign of power) but also other women, and even some men who are not on her level in the rap game. Two strong examples are Beez in the Trap where she is 'Always in the trap' and her trap being rap. She is making all the money and again just one of the guys because she is such a strong artist/ rapper. And Come on a Cone where Nicki basically is one of the guys in the video and she talks about herself as if she is a man, because she has that empowerment.

 These are just two female rap stars take on it, and my opinion strongly goes along with Queen Latifah. I still have used it in a negative connotation myself though at times, I'll admit that. But I believe it can be seen in a positive light as an assertive or independent woman as Nicki takes it, even if the person saying it means it in a negative way.

 What do you think of the use of the word? Is its connotation flexible? Can it be used in a positive sense?

Nicki Minaj: The New Fly Girl

As I was reading Cheryl Keyes paper on the female black identity in hip hop I was thinking of current day artists that fit into these identities to see if they could be applied. Granted today I think a lot of female rappers cannot fit under just these four identities. The fly girl section is what caught my attention though, as I was reading my mind was screaming Nicki Minaj!!! just about every other sentence.

Nicki Minaj is the current day fly girl. Now as I mentioned in class I love Nicki Minaj. I'm awkwardly obsessed with her and her music. She is one rap artist I can actually rap along with being the white and acutely hip hop knowledgeable person I am (or was before this class!). But lets begin with Keyes definition of a fly girl.

"Fly describes someone in chic clothing and fashionable hairstyles, jewelry, and cosmetics" (coming from blaxploitation films of the 70's era)

Now I am sure there are many people out there who would not call Nicki chic or fashionable because her style is often outrageous to many. But lets look at the Boogie Boys description of a fly girl,

"She sports a lot of gold, wears tight jeans, leather mini skirts, a made-up face, has voluptuous curves, but speaks her mind"

Now if any of you have even seen Nicki Minaj you know that woman has a fat ass. I mean its huge. She has those voluptuous curves all over. And when have you not seen her with a made up face or tight  jeans/ pants/ leggings, whatever. On top of this she has the ever-changing hair color and styles that Salt-N-Pepa coined as a part of rap's fly girl.

Style and looks are not the only thing that make up a fly girl. They also work to accept and love their bodies which Nicki does because she ignores all the talk of the media about her behind and just says I am who I am and I love myself. She does not believe there is anything special about her except her talent as a rap artist. On top of this they sculpt their own persona (which Nicki has 4 of) and are independent women. Nicki often talks about this as she fights to be compared to and treated like male rappers because she believes she is on the same level.

On top of all this fly girls like to focus more on their rapping than their dress styles. I believe Nicki does focus on both equally because she does see her style as being a part of who she is, her music and her independence. I mean she would not be the Nicki Minaj we all know with out her style and music. I believe her to be a skilled rapper as she often has playful lyrics and utilizes wordplay well.

Punch line Queen, no boxer though
Might pull up in a Porsche, no boxster though
Tell a hater, "Yo don't you got cocks to blow?"
Tell them Kangaroo Nick, I'll box a ho

This is the opening part from her recent song "The Boys" and I love it. She is saying that she is the Queen when it comes to punch lines but she isn't wearing the shorts and leads into the Boxster which is the cheapest Porsche there is so she is making money. The next line she is basically hating on other female rappers and critics who give her shit, saying don't you have something better to do, and that she can be a boxer (kangaroos known for their 'boxing' matches) if they won't back down and she will fight them, putting them in their place. Now of course rap lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, do you have a different take? This is just an example of a recent song though. Nicki has amazing playful rap in all of her songs and I think she has the right to brag about how strong her rap skills are. Some of her lyrics are hard to understand though so definitely go check it out. Here are a couple other of my favorite songs that I think encompass her as a fly girl through rap skills and style.

Song all about how great of a rapper/ artist she is.

Roman persona

Not a rap, but I love it. Shows her skill as in artist. Marilyn is an idol of hers.

To finish this up I just want to bring up Nicki's personas I mentioned before as a part of being a fly girl. She not only made one persona but four. And they are Nicki, Roman, Martha and Barbie. Nicki is well her, Roman is a gay boy, Martha is Roman's mother and Barbie is the girly some what soft spoken persona. Watch this video to learn a little more. She explains them in her words and the show cuts of different music videos with the different personas and pay attention to the change in voice and style of rap as the personas change, it is really quite an interesting thing and takes some skill.

Interview with Chelsea Lately about her four personas. WATCH!! :)

Ultimately I believe Nicki Minaj to be today's fly girl, what do you think? How do you feel about her as a rap artist? 

If you stuck with me through all of this then thank you! I had a lot to say and I have a lot more but I should stop. But if you have any questions or want to talk about anything leave a comment! I will converse with you on this topic, rather related to her as a fly girl or not :)