Exploring the relationship between hoes and hip hop (thread):
hoe/heaux:
slang derived from “whore” or “hooker” and racialized for a lil razzle dazzle ✨
typically aimed at Black people who work in the desire industry and/or considered “easy”, “ gold digging”, “sexual deviants”
slang derived from “whore” or “hooker” and racialized for a lil razzle dazzle ✨
typically aimed at Black people who work in the desire industry and/or considered “easy”, “ gold digging”, “sexual deviants”
also:
reclaimed terminology/term of endearment/ informs socio-political stance for quite a few of those who were meant to be stained and shamed (bc of the above)
reclaimed terminology/term of endearment/ informs socio-political stance for quite a few of those who were meant to be stained and shamed (bc of the above)
popularized in the 1970s (at the height of pimp culture/during the “classic” mack era) and through hip hop music/culture
(important when considering layers, heaux adjacent talk, etc)
hoe/heaux has also been used to describe or refer to Black women and femmes in general. interchangeable almost in the way that “bytch” has been for “woman” and/or femmes throughout history and within popular culture +
hoe/heaux has also been used to describe or refer to Black women and femmes in general. interchangeable almost in the way that “bytch” has been for “woman” and/or femmes throughout history and within popular culture +
When hip hop is introduced it is primarily dominated by men (many of which heavily influenced by pimp culture, misogynoir, and patriarchy whether part of their gimmick or not) which provoked responses from BW in hip hop fed up with terminology and lyrics they found degrading
another thing that happens: BW in hip hop leaning into their sexuality, reclaiming “hoe”, and creating music that speaks to those like them
an early example being Salt-N-Pepa
In the 90s we’re introduced to artists like Lil Kim who takes these themes to a different level
Peep Salt-N-Pepa in the video ☝🏾 and adult film star Vanessa Del Rio 😉
fast forward to the early 2000s and we see artists influenced by sex positive legends before them WITH BACKGROUNDS IN SEX WORK combining the two
(Trina enters the chat)
(Trina enters the chat)
also: Eve (another respected artist with a SWer background)
The early 2000s also becomes a glorious era for video vixens
This of course came with critique from those who felt that the presence of vixens reinforced stereotypes around BW being used as props or sexual objects (similar to artists mentioned above affiliated with squads/collectives dominated by men) +
and further helped create intracommunal hierarchical structures that placed FSSW at the bottom (example: Karrine Steffans)
and also helped to position “sex positive” women and femmes against those seen as “hoes” (as if the two shared no connection)
adding more tomorrow and throughout the week
