Hip Hop Feminism Saved 2020

From deciding to commit to a self-discovery journey towards freer beauty and locking my hair, to balancing my mental stamina while living in the middle of a pandemic—I’ve had to continuously and vigilantly stay empowered, confident and most of all—keep my momentum. I burn out within hours these days and—I dunno about you—but I’m in a constant need of motivation. And that motivation has come from a few different Hot Girls. Hot Girls like Megan. Lizzo. Lauryn. Erykah. Missy. And all the other Black female rappers who’ve shaped (and are shaping) the future of liberation of all women. They’ve gotten me through this nine-month long, bumpy ride.

Since the 1990s, Black women in hip hop have been outspoken within their sexuality, freedom, self-preservation and dismantling toxic ideals and narratives. Regardless if you’re listening to That Thing or Body—that vibrant, empowered energy can be intersected into us. These are the intentions behind hip hop feminism.

So what is hip hop feminism? Coined by writer and journalist Joan Morgan, hip hop feminism is a way of thinking that is grounded in the lived experiences of Black women. According to Morgan, it “emphasizes that the personal is political because race, class, gender and sexuality determine how Black women are treated.” It breaks down “ideologies of universal womanhood, bodies, class and gender construction to center the Black identity as paramount to our experience. It works to develop a radical self-politic of love, empowerment, gendered perception and social consciousness for the historically underrepresented, hyper-sexualized and marginalized.” 

The Black female rappers journey is one that reflects the misogyny, racism, exploitation and toxic cycles of our society. When a male rapper shot Megan Thee Stallion and the internet deemed her as an over-exaggerating liar, it was a reflection of that misogyny. Because it took exploitive memes and mocking internet jokes for Meg to speak out about it out of fear of ruining his life. And that was a reflection of the you-are-invincibly-resilient-so-put-anyone-but-yourself-first narrative that is embedded in a Black woman’s way of living. So the Black female rappers journey is more than a life experience—it is a reflection of where we are and where we need to be. Meg speaking out about the man who intentionally harmed her was an act of resistance. It was an act of truth. It was hip hop feminism.

The experiences of Black feminist women in hip hop is incredibly necessary—for women, for men and for our culture. “They are the feminist consciousness that allows us to examine how certain representations can be both empowering and problematic. They are a resource for all Black women to view ourselves and our world other than that offered by the established order.” They’re helping fund higher education opportunities for other women of color. They encourage awareness with lyrics like, “How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?” Or, “I guess nobody ever told you—all you must hold onto is you.” Or, “I rock shows by myself. Ain’t no back up. Ain’t no help.” They’re breaking records and disrupting male-dominated spaces. They’re paving a way for the exploration and evolution of the Black woman through self-discovery, sexuality and dualities. 

So I’m dedicating the wins of 2020 to the hip hop feminists who, during possibly one of the worst years in history, are managing to stay resistant and radically empowered while also encouraging us to stay resistant and radically empowered.

Here’s to momentum in 2021 and songs that I dance to in my bedroom (with my red LED lights on to mimic that of a Numbers dance floor). Here’s to hip hop feminism.