ENGL 1101 - Fall 2020 - Hip-Hop Reader - PEASE

Many genres use figurative language in the lyrics to songs. One genre that is often compared to poetry is rap or hip-hop. Lyrics are put together sometimes with figurative language to help things rhyme or just to help the song flow. Artists like the Migos use figurative language in their catchy songs. The song being focused on is Migos “Stir Fry” you can tell when writing the song they focused on telling a story throught out the song. Migos uses similies, metaphors, and imagery. The Migos made this catchy song that appealed to the listener's senses along with creating a message. 

The song is filled with similies as the rappers take turns in verses comparing themselves to food and other words that help the song keep that catchy rhyme. An example is “Trap n*gga with the chickens like Popeye’s.” In this lyric the artist Quavo is comparing himself to having chicken which is considered drugs in the rap community to having chicken like the famous fast food restaurant Popeye’s. Another example of a simile rapped by the artist Quavo is “Money changing colors like tie-dye.” This could also be considered imagery and apply to the sense of sight. With this lyric I think that the song was dropped around the same time that the $100 dollar bill had changed. This being that the money had changed from green to blue. Tie-dye is also a craft that changes the colors of objects like shirts so they made a comparison in the color changes. 

 Another famous lyric that made the song popular was “She got a big ole onion booty, make the world cry.” With this lyric I assume Quavo was comparing the sight of a big butt makes him cry just like an onion would. I also would consider personification or hyperbole because the whole world can’t cry. A lyric like “In the kitchen, wrist twistin like it’s stir fry,” doesn’t necessarily mean that the rapper is cooking food but in this case drugs. Many rappers use the comparison of food in music and even music videos today. This goes back to them comparing having chickens like Popeyes when chickens are considered drugs in the music industry. The rapper is comparing himself making drugs to him making stir fry. 

A lyric that starts off the chorus is when the rapper Quavo spits “dance with my dogs in the nightime.” I personally think this is an exaggeration of an action on something that isn’t human because dogs can’t actually dance and that he’s saying his friends or other rappers party with him. I also can assume he Another food comparison is “in that skillet, watch me flip it like its Five Guy’s.” This comparison could best be described as flipping “dope” like they flip patties of burgers at Five Guy’s. Now it’s clear that the lyrics aren’t actually talking about food but comparing the actions of making food to making drugs. There is a pattern of using food and the way it compares to drugs throughout the verses in the song.

The Migos take a turn at a catchy song describing food but are the artist really talking about cooking stir fry. Lyrics can be put together to help the song rhyme or just to help the song flow. Migos often write songs rapping about everyday objects while trying to express things like drugs and money. The Migos play homage to where they come from Atlanta in their music telling a story on the hustling and drug business along with how they’ve come up since being in the hood. The song being highlighted is Migos “Stir Fry” where the group wrote the song using the term stir fry and comparing it to the production of dope or other drugs. The Migos made this catchy song that appealed to the listener's senses along with creating a message.  

The Migos use stir fry as a comparison to making drugs in lyrics throughout the song. In lyrics such as “Trap n*gga with the chickens like Popeye’s.” In this lyric the artist Quavo is comparing himself to having chicken which is considered drugs specifically crack in the rap community to having chicken like Popeyes. The use of the restaurant Popeyes was not only for the rhyme but to connect with the Atlanta audience who most often make Popeye’s a famous landmark in music. A lyric such as “in that skillet, watch me flip it like its Five Guys,” where the skillet is used to cook the drugs and the motion of making it could be considered the same motion as flipping a pan. The use of Five Guys is odd but clever knowing the comparison could best be described as flipping “dope” like they flip patties. A lyric like “In the kitchen, wrist twistin like it’s stir fry,” doesn’t necessarily mean that the rapper is cooking food but the motion of the wrist in preparing narcotics. 

The artist often takes the time to brag about the amount of money they have. In lyrics like Money changing colors like tie-dye.” This could also be considered imagery and apply to the sense of sight. With this lyric I think that the song was dropped around the same time that the $100 dollar bill had changed. This being that the money had changed from green to blue. Tie-dye is also a craft that changes the colors of objects like shirts so they made a comparison in the color changes. They also brag about jewelry “Icy Patek, check, yeah, baguettes, they sit on my neck.” Rappers often use the word ice when describing their flashy jewelry. The use of the word baguettes which is bread could be best used to describe money and the amount of money he has.  

  A lyric that starts off the chorus is when the rapper Quavo spits “dance with my dogs in the nighttime.” I personally think this is an exaggeration of an action on something that isn’t human because dogs can’t actually dance and that he’s saying his friends or other rappers party with him. She got a big ole onion booty, make the world cry.” With this lyric I assume Quavo was comparing the sight of a big butt makes him cry just like an onion would. It’s not the best lyric but it keeps the song flowing. “Pockets, blue cheese, I'm in the kitchen,” I believe that you could consider the use of blue cheese as the blue one hundred dollar bill because he is talking about having it in his pockets so it would be money. “Life’s Monopoly, go cop me some land and some property.” The lyricism is clever with this line if you know how the game of Monopoly is played. The rapper like a lot of other artists are talking about getting money and having big houses which helps you win the game and saying that life’s a game.

After analyzing the figurative language it’s hard to picture that the song has simple lyrics talking about cooking stir fry. The Migos used simple lyrics and turned them into a bigger meaning taking the audience on a trip into their drug making and the way they were able to rise into becoming rich and famous. The Migos often use simple lyrics to talk about producing and selling drugs in other songs such as T-Shirt, Brown Paper Bag, and Contraband. The Migos use their simple lyrics to promote the songs where only a small amount of people actually catch the literal meaning of the songs. 

In conclusion the lyrics of the Migos songs might not have the most meaningful message, but they do have meaning. Rapping about the making and selling of narcotics, but promoting it as cooking stir fry led them to the charts. The pattern is seen with the use of food comparisons to talk about drugs and money along with the use of board games to describe how to win at life. 

One of the most consumed genres in the music industry with a sound so diverse with plenty of subgenres. The outcome of what rap can sound like is unlimited. Hip-Hop has reached new heights with artists pointing the genre in new directions. Artists like J.Cole and Future are rappers that held the decade down. Rappers often talked about their status in lyrics such as money, clothes, and jewelry. They also take the time to talk about the women sometimes objectifying them. 

The way rappers write songs and what they choose to rap about has been a topic of discussion for years. How some can choose to write stories about their early life and real world problems while others rappers choose a catchy hook and brag about the money and luxuries. For example, J.Cole is seen as an influential rapper who writes honest music about encounters with women ,while Future is said to write toxic music towards women while also talking about money.

One of the most consumed genres in the music industry with a sound so diverse with plenty of subgenres. The outcome of what rap can sound like is unlimited. Hip-Hop has reached new heights because artists point the genre in new directions. Rappers often talked about their status in lyrics such as money, clothes, and jewelry. They also take the time to talk about the women sometimes objectifying them. How some can choose to write stories about their early life and real world problems while others rappers choose a catchy hook and brag about the money and luxuries.

The way rappers write songs and what they choose to rap about has been a topic of discussion for years. For example, J.Cole is seen as an influential rapper who writes honest music about encounters with women ,while Future is said to write toxic music towards women while also talking about money.  Artists like J.Cole and Future are rappers that held the decade down. Both rappers have been described as some of the best rappers of the 2010’s.   

Rappers who focused on lyricicsm could be seen as the underdog or artist that weren’t as famous. As Cole released music he brought a sense of commercial appeal along with impressive lyricism. His album Born Sinner he taks about women in a positive light. Songs such as Power Trip “She got me up all night all i’m singing is love songs” he tells the story of a girl and how he only wants her and that being his longest crush and his homies clowning him for it. Other songs like Crooked Smile he talks about the pressure women go through to try and fit beauty standards, he raps “with all the pressure to to look impressive and go out in heels” and “killing yourself to find a man that’ll kill for you.” He brings the song in with “love yourself girl or nobody will” and “no need to fix what god already put his paintbrush on” Cole raps about women needing to love themselves in their natural state. 

He flipped the switch in 2014 when he released 2014 Forest Hills Drive a narrative to narrate his path from adolescence to rap star. The rapper often has themes of chasing the limelight, realities of the streets, family, and finding happiness.  He raps praising his mother in the song Apparently telling the story of how he left her when her home was being foreclosed and apologizing for being selfish. Cole spits “and though it don’t always show I love her just like i love you” and “wish you could live forever...i love you mama” Cole takes the time to appreciate the women in his life and does it in the music respectfully. He also created songs for those who questioned his position in the rap game. J.Cole finished the decade with his album KOD where he offers a mission statement for where his legacy stands. 

On the otherhand, rappers like Future see women as property and not human. Andre 3000 summed up Future’s music saying hde makes the most negative inspirational music ever. Future’s song I Won stir controversy with claims that the lyrics objectified women. He raps “and i know that ass gettin fatter and I know it's because of me” and “I know it because of me got you in custody.” Future aswell as other rappers romanticize the idea of women being their property. The rapper got major scrutiny for a music video that resurfaced My Collection he raps “Before I tell a lie, won't tell you nothin…Any time I got you, girl you my possession....Even if I hit you once, you part of my collection”. In the video he is shown surrounded by topless women. To fans it seems as though Future conveys toxic masculinity and doesn’t respect women.

Is Rap dependent on Women?

One of the most consumed genres in the music industry with a sound so diverse with plenty of subgenres. The outcome of what rap can sound like is unlimited. Hip-Hop has reached new heights because artists point the genre in new directions. Rappers often talked about their status in lyrics such as money, clothes, and jewelry. They also take the time to talk about the women sometimes objectifying them. Women have been the talk for centuries even decades in music whether it’s positive or negative. Often when listening to music and watching music videos you see women whether they’re dancing naked or seen as someone’s companion. How some can choose to write stories about their early life and real world problems while others rappers choose a catchy hook and brag about the money and luxuries. 

The way rappers write songs and what they choose to rap about has been a topic of discussion for years. For example, J.Cole is seen as an influential rapper who writes honest music about encounters with women, while Future is said to write toxic music towards women while also talking about money.  The two rappers both have pretty big followings and have won awards for their music despite what their lyrics are about. Artists like J.Cole and Future are rappers that held the decade down. Both rappers have been described as some of the best rappers of the 2010’s by Complex.   

Embracing a Woman 

Rappers who focused on lyricism could be seen as the underdog or artist that weren’t as famous. As Cole released music he brought a sense of commercial appeal along with impressive lyricism. His album Born Sinner talks about women in a positive light. Songs such as Power Trip “She got me up all night all i’m singing is love songs” he tells the story of a girl and how he only wants her and that being his longest crush and his homies clowning him for it. Other songs like Crooked Smile he talks about the pressure women go through to try and fit beauty standards, he raps “with all the pressure to to look impressive and go out in heels” and “killing yourself to find a man that’ll kill for you.” He brings the song in with “love yourself girl or nobody will” and “no need to fix what god already put his paintbrush on” Cole raps about women needing to love themselves in their natural state. 

He flipped the switch in 2014 when he released 2014 Forest Hills Drive a narrative to narrate his path from adolescence to rap star. The rapper often has themes of chasing the limelight, realities of the streets, family, and finding happiness.  He raps praising his mother in the song Apparently telling the story of how he left her when her home was being foreclosed and apologizing for being selfish. Cole spits “and though it doesn't always show I love her just like i love you” and “wish you could live forever...i love you mama” Cole takes the time to appreciate the women in his life and does it in the music respectfully. He also created songs for those who questioned his position in the rap game. J.Cole finished the decade with his album KOD where he offers a mission statement for where his legacy stands. 

Another artist good for empowering women in their music is Wale. He often makes the woman the protagonist in the music he creates. Wale, like J.Cole, writes music about interactions he has had with music he often speaks on the mind before the body. In songs like The Bloom (Ambitious Girl 3) he raps comparing women to flowers in lyrics like “She is but a flower and i love her cause she-.........so baby let me see you bloom for me.” The rapper Wale metaphorically speaks on the struggles of a woman's life and beauty while encouraging her in the song. Another song by Wale Black is Gold he celebrates black womens intelligence and beauty. He raps “blakc is beautiful, shawty, that you should know” and often gives shout outs in the song to people like Lupita and Viola Davis as well as Justine Skye and SZA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Misogyny in Rap

On the other hand, rappers like Future see women as property and not human. Andre 3000 summed up Future’s music saying he makes the most negative inspirational music ever. He has carried the flag for douchebags everywhere as he gives the internet the persona they know. Future’s song I Won stir controversy with claims that the lyrics objectified women. He raps “and I know that ass getting fatter and I know it's because of me” and “I know it because of me got you in custody.” Future as well as other rappers romanticize the idea of women being their property. The rapper got major scrutiny for a music video that resurfaced My Collection he raps “Before I tell a lie, won't tell you nothin…Any time I got you, girl you my possession....Even if I hit you once, you part of my collection”. In the video he is shown surrounded by topless women. To fans it seems as though Future conveys toxic masculinity and doesn’t respect women. 

Another artist DaBaby has had multiple incidents with assaulting women and questionable lyrics about women. He often raps about sexual thing done with women in songs like Nasty where is portrays that he wants intercourse nasty in lyrics like “yeah i want head before we f*ck and I want it nasty…….she like when i tell her to spit on it.” With lyrics like these DaBaby only has one thing on his mind and it’s making the women a sexual object in his songs. DaBaby in another song titled Toes raps “say if you leave her she gone die… you done with life” which could be seen as a misogynistic lyric as he is known to deal with multiple women. The song iPhone is another example of him just seeing women as sex objects “told my b*tch i love you that was a typo….my b*tch so ungrateful so i’m out with my side hoe.” He, like many other rappers, takes the time to rap about practicing misogyny and is praised for it.   

Who Needs a Woman?

Whether a rapper talks about women positively or negatively women are still the main topic of discussion. It seems as though many rappers can’t make a hit song without talking about a woman. Despite the need for rappers to talk about women in their music some just decide not to. For example, Joyner Lucas his latest album  was full of raw emotion including his upcoming success and wealth. His song Evolution brought out many of the album's themes such as wealth not making you forget the past. He raps “And I thought if I was rich then all my problems would be through...now I got a few millions and now I got more problems than you.” He was explaining to the audience that with or without the money he still was having problems. In other songs like On this Way he raps politically “pray we fight legislation, protest till we flat line paralyzed.. They’re throwing stones at my Black Lives Matter signs.” The song was said to be a narrative to his racial injustice along with others. Women are rarely seen as narratives in Lucas’ songs because they are objects of affection or he’s closed off emotionally from relationships. 

Lucas has also released pieces of music such as I’m not Racist seen as controversial to some and offensive to others.He paints a narrative on the disconnects between whites and blacks in America. He raps from both perspectives going back and forth between a  black and a white man's arguments. Towards the end of the song he raps “there’s two side to every story and now you know mine….i'm hoping maybe we can come to an understanding.” He asks for the other side to understand where he’s coming from and to not just judge him. 

Closure

In conclusion the need to use women in rap is arguably good or bad. But the need to degrade them in music is not up for discussion. Artists like J.Cole and Wale can ultimately make a  love story out of an interaction while artists like Future and DaBaby see a woman as a pet. The only thing is if it wasn’t for women would these rappers have much to write about. Rappers like Joyner have everything to say and don't even have a thought writing about women in mind. 

Alexander, Ella. “Kanye West and Future Capture 'Trophy Women' with Chains in 'Sexist'.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 8 May 2014, www.independent.co.uk/news/people/rappers-future-and-kanye-west-capture-trophy-women-with-chains-in-new-sexist-video-game-called-i-won-the-game-9337412.html.

Lee, Craig T. “(Wale's) Admiration of Women.” Medium, Medium, 28 Dec. 2016, medium.com/@ItsMyAmbitionz/wales-admiration-of-women-8abfe7c54db8.

Lucas, Joyner. “Joyner Lucas – I'm Not Racist.” Genius, 19 Apr. 2017, genius.com/Joyner-lucas-im-not-racist-lyrics.

Nostro, Lauren. “30 Rap Songs That Say Nice Things About Women.” Complex, Complex, 1 June 2018, www.complex.com/music/rap-songs-that-say-nice-things-about-women/.

Skelton, Eric. The Best Rappers of the 2010s. 19 Nov. 2019, www.complex.com/music/best-rappers-of-the-2010s/.

Williams, Tiana. “Future Accused Of ‘Toxic Masculinity’ After Viral ‘Nude Women’ Video Resurfaces.” Capital XTRA, Capital XTRA, 16 Sept. 2019, www.capitalxtra.com/artists/future/news/accused-toxic-masculinity-nude-women-music-video/.