My good sises (yes, I just made sis plural) Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion dropped a single called WAP. Either you’ve heard it by now or you’ve been living under a rock. WAP, an acronym for Wet Ass Pussy, has truly been causing a frenzy since it dropped a couple weeks back. The lyrics, particularly the explicit ones, paired with the video had everyone from hot girls to conservatives giving their two cents.
To me, the song is a bop – from the sample to the innuendos; they did what they needed to do! A hot girl anthem that we needed, even though we’re all still in the house. An ode to day parties that could have been. Critics Haters will tell you that ladies shouldn’t be rapping about this type of stuff. HA! While they were busy hating, the song debuted at number 1 on the billboard chart.
So while we’re here, let’s talk about it. Why are grown ass men worried about: 1. what grown ass women choose to do with their bodies & 2. what grown ass women choose to rap about?
The first critique that really blew my mind was from congressional candidate James P. Bradley. Bradley, who claimed he heard the song accidentally, stated, “Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion are what happens when children are raised without God and without a strong father figure. Their new ‘song’ The #WAP (which i heard accidentally) made me want to pour holy water in my ears and I feel sorry for future girls if this is their role model!” First of all, sir – you don’t deserve whatever seat you’re running for off the strength of you not being able to simply change the song or turn off your radio. Secondly, Megan absolutely grew up with a strong father, who unfortunately passed away when she was 15. You assumed this because they’re Black and Afro-Latina. Lastly, don’t bring God into this! She (my God is a Black woman) doesn’t agree with you.
The second critique that truly perplexed me was from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who stated that his “only real concern” was for Cardi and Meg’s vaginal health….. Sir – WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT ANYONE ELSE’S VAGINA?! For the record, ain’t nothing wrong wit a lil WAP. Consult your local gynecologist.
White conservative men weren’t the only ones who had these sentiments. I won’t even get into the plethora of tweets from Black men having everything negative to say about the track and how (Black) women should carry themselves. The same Black men who were quiet and failed to show a single ounce of sympathy or concern when Megan said she got shot by another Black man. I really hate to see it. With every passing day I can’t believe I am still more attracted to men. Smh.
I’m actually embarrassed for these people. It’s just the hypocrisy of it all. We don’t often have the same level of discourse when men make similar songs. Where were all these people when Some Cut dropped or when BET Uncut was live and direct? Shit, this isn’t even hip-hop/rap only – Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy was suggestive as hell too! At the of the day, it really boils down to control for me. Control of women’s bodies and how they are viewed and used. Men can sexualize women to their advantage (in real life, music, media, etc.) but it’s only problematic when we want to own and dictate what that looks like for us. They will do or say anything to maintain this control. It’s a bit sad, really.
This very point is why I also get frustrated with women who have critiqued the song. “[They] just set the entire female gender back by 100 years…,” said DeAnna Lorraine. Did it, DeAnna, did it really? You’d rather your sole purpose to be bearing 12 children then? OK.
Ladies, ladies, ladies – we should all be reveling in this moment because we can be all things. That’s the best part about duality. You can be a hoe (whatever that means to you) and a housewife. A lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets. All of these things can be true; they are not mutually exclusive. I get it, I promise. There are plenty-ish things that EYE wouldn’t do, but it doesn’t bother me if another woman wants to. And it shouldn’t bother you. Don’t get caught slipping trying to be wholesome for a man who may end up picking a sexual explorer anyway. You’re doing yourself a disservice.
Imagine a world where people could really understand their bodies and what they liked and didn’t like, and they could express that freely. Imagine how much more pleasant that could be for everyone. I could really go on and on about this. The bottom line is people’s bodies are their own to use and talk about. Guess whose business it’s not? Yours. 🙂 ya hear me?