Richardine Bartee
11) Lil’ Kim - Not Tonight - Hard Core
Being one of the first women to express herself explicitly on wax, Lil’ Kim has become the model rapper for women who want to portray the rebellious ranger. Unheard of in mainstream music, Kimberly Denise Jones told the stories of women who were often suppressed by patriarchy and punished for wanting to be with more than one man. Being able to explore, sexually (as a woman), was forbidden in music.
12) 2Pac - Keep Ya Head Up - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
As a result of the systemic racism that we experience as people of colour in America, sometimes, it inspires artists to make songs that resonate with millions of people - for generations to come. ‘Dear Mama’ is another song that describes what life as a young Black man in America is like, and why some of our men tend to do what they do. It’s called survival.
13) Solange - Mad featuring Lil Wayne – A Seat at the Table
We seem to celebrate, even when we are in shambles; emotionally, physically, and financially. It’s not that we cover up what we feel. We believe that it (whatever it is) shouldn’t stop us from creating or having a good time. Like JAY Z once said, we would prefer to make the song cry. From the perspective of the people, who like the idea of perpetuating the concept of the Black woman being mad without a season, we are not ever supposed to be angry. For some reason, people always feel the need to want to tell us how we should behave - in and out of their presences. Like, no one else in this world gets mad.
14) Jeezy - Bang featuring T.I. and Lil Scrappy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
And when some of us are mad, to the point of no-return, God himself will have to come down and stop us. We wear another level of distress on a daily basis. Therefore, it is a good idea to let us be. Our oppressors are aware of it, so they try to break us. They’d love for us to break out of character, to say ‘I told you so.’
15) Remy Ma - Feels So Good featuring Ne-Yo - There’s Something About Remy: Based On a True Story
All women, even the tomboys, are deserving of love. They are also capable of making love songs. Based on mythical storylines, we aren’t worthy of love, but some of the best music is inspired by our love.
16) Pharrell Williams – Happy – G I R L
Yes, we are happy people. Happy as hell.
17) Syleena Johnson - I Am Your Woman - I Am Your Woman: The Best of Syleena Johnson
Asking for respect in a more subtle way than Aretha Franklin’s 1967 ‘Respect’, so many women feel like they are supposed to stay with a partner who doesn’t treat them the way they need to be. Excuse me: Remember, abuse isn’t only physical, but there’s something about the constraints of marriage that worries me. Yes, at the church you shared your vows and exchanged words about commitment, but what happens when you discover that you’ve married a con-artist? I think it is the kind of thinking that makes married women want to hold on. It is about the promise that they made to God. It’s one thing when your partner isn’t perfect, but to be cognitively aware that you are a sloppy malignant individual is another. I’ve also heard a general statement that Black women aren’t submissive. The lyrics in this song say otherwise.
18) Drake - Legend - If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Coming back to the usual narrative about the accomplished creative, ‘Legend’ addresses the afterlife and also plays with the idea of being a living deity. Being, or feeling invincible, is something that most of us find relatable when we are young or rich and out of touch.
19) SZA – The Weekend – Ctrl
For most people, it is hard to deal with the reality of not being someone’s top priority. If you’ve played the role of the mistress/side/the help, you understand what your position is. Because of the stereotypes about Black women, some will settle for ‘less’ (and that’s depending on how you see it) or a polyamorous relationship. I think everything is situational.
20) James Brown - Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Pt. 1 – 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
Nowadays, ‘securing the bag’ is the most sensible thing to do. That ideology had to come from somewhere. Personally, I’d like to give credit to the late James Brown. As the progenitor of Funk music, there’s no doubt that he is not a direct influence on what we say and how we say it. Afterall, he was rapping in the late sixties. He is also the most sampled artist to date—ironically, a style of production used in the world of Hip-Hop.
Moreover, Mr Brown knew how essential women were to a man’s world. Hear him sing about it on ‘It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’. Unfortunately, it’s the same kind of thinking that kept women in bondage for such a long time.
