By Takudzwa Kadzura
Authors Stephens and
Phillips (2003) argue that the basic stereotypes applied to black women
historically, ‘‘Jezebel, Mammy, Matriarch, and Welfare Mother," form the
basis of the modern more sexually explicit and demeaning portrayals of black
women as ‘‘Freaks, Gold Diggers, Divas, Dikes, and Baby Mamas’’ in rap music
today. In fact, they argue that despite the availability of a diversity of
images for black women, the substance of media portrayals has not changed over
the past century.
And
ZimHipHop is not spared either from this cultural malaise.
We
could have easily let it pass. Our valiant efforts to profusely inform and enlighten
readers on the Zimbabwean hip hop industry have always avoided popularity
gimmicks. Risqué music video snippets are some of those clickbait techniques
and we can affirm that they really work! Popularity.
This
piece attempts to highlight the pros and cons of nudity in the Zimbabwean hip
hop space. The lines separating authentic, creative content and publicity
stunts are very thin when it comes to the arts industry. Clout chasing
techniques barely contribute to the creation and maintenance of a respectable brand.
However
as human beings we stand justified to whatever type of content we subscribe to.
The all-mighty and omnipresent Internet is that democratic, after all, it’s
your phone and data. Why would anybody bother?
Covid-19, Increased Screen Time, and Desperation for Attention [Online]
With
Covid-19 restricting physical ups and downs esp in urban dwellings, staying
glued to these eye-souring screens has saved many from the dreaded abyss called ‘boredom'. This pandemic, as heartless
as the devil, has destroyed and rearranged industries.
As
if a blessing, it has boosted the rise of new creative artists and socialites on
the internet streets. Businesses have also stepped up e-commerce competence to
stay profitable. Nobody has an option.
But
what is it that people particularly Zimbabweans like most on the internet? What
spreads faster?
Over
the course of the COVID – 19 era nudity stands out as a top seller. The arrow immediately
points to the Njuzu debacle which once broke the internet. Prior to these new
noisemakers we’ve had Vimbai Zimuto, Tiara Baluti, Bev and the likes who have
salvaged a living from producing sexually suggestive content. Not forgetting
Yolanda Cream and other new vixens on the scene.
In
a nation where basic commodities are ridiculously priced, daylight corruption
and several abuses reported daily the citizens cannot fail to hunt for those
videos and pictures. Dare to expose a celebrity’s sex life and watch how
congested the internet gets. It’s a bigger chaotic convergence than Harare’s
rush hour traffic. We could go on and on. Perhaps, humans need a break after
all and shag off the burden. You are not a pervert to go on Instagram or Facebook
for such juicy leaks.
Sex,
Cultures, and Conservative Societies
And
back to our beloved game, the raps and its daughters and sons. A genre with so
much talent yet so broke and for years, rejected by the industry gatekeeping
vultures. How has this genre fared with sexualized content? One of hip hop’s
pioneers in Zimbabwe Desmond Chideme stunned the internet with a leaked sex-tape
of him and popular socialite Pokello a decade ago. He was to cement presence
via lyrical prowess in the aftermath so he could capitalize on the fast-spread
and far-reaching popularity. Whether that was intentional or unfortunate,
incidents like this one add to a couple of clout chasing techniques which
artists can or have done to hog some limelight.
Sex
remains a closed door affair of two responsible adults and in (religious)
Christian societies like ours though sometimes hypocritical, it is frowned upon
when you introduce an audience. It is morally offensive. Who knows what would have been for him without
such a showstopper?
What
we know with certainty is Zimbabwe’s internet crowd craves for these and yes,
Stunner Da Des and Pokello are still bombarding the timeline with high
definition pictures and selling products. In as much as the internet forgets
can we say the same about the respect lost? If you give a damn.
Sex
Sells! The ‘Decadence’ of Commercialized Hip Hop
Hip
hop across the globe has arguably the most sexualized content in the music and
arts. Scantily dressed black women are a mainstay in the visual presentation of
rap music videos.
The
intellectualism espoused in the origins of this genre connote black youth
empowerment as the base-phenomena. However, with time, hip hop has developed and
its wings have outgrown its vicinity.
This
has been in line with the hegemony of capitalism where money is worshipped over
the intrinsic dignity of human existence. Where art is captured by elite interests
to sell ideas and products – materialism/hedonism/consumerism.
Hip
hop is now extreme, carefree and uncensored because the aim is to portray things
as they are. And to push agendas and narratives that do not create radical youths.
Expression is purely an outpour of everything consciously and sub-consciously –
whether via deep passion or a desire for money and recognition.
In
contrast our cultures aim to groom morally upright generations. However with
the advent of the internet at everyone’s doorstep, the African contextual moral
authority as a pillar of social cohesion is waning. In as much as we praise
artists for adding vibes into our lives we cannot ignore how they have helped
vices sneak into our homesteads.
Talk
about dress, language and different forms of violence propagated in modern
music particularly hip hop. As a people we have accepted music with its vices
on the basis that individuals have a conscience to choose between right and
wrong. A close interrogation into the scenes behind production of dirty music
videos has given us an insight about sexism, misogyny, objectification, consumerism/materialism,
and immorality with serious repercussions.
Women
are either totally, partially, or semi- nude in some music videos and likewise,
impacts the life of young girls and their later perceptions of womanhood/femininity.
What type of body must she have? Of
what value? Where does she stand amongst men? And so forth.
Studies
have established that in hip hop, videos perpetuate the continued assault on
the sexual integrity of black women’s bodies.
Nudity
in Zimbabwean Hip Hop
The
premise of this article is borne in light of the recent video series released
by popular hip hop artist Crooger which are Kurunga,
Munhu weMunhu and Simudza Gumbo. He has done so with the able aide of Kikky
Badass, the goddess of too-much-sauce as spelled by her bio on social media.
Her
presence on the hip hop scene is not in any doubt as she has amassed a couple
of accolades to laud her rapping skills. The two are managed by Zimboy, a
prominent music promoter and founder of Chimurenga Arts Festival. This mere
investigation is enough to allege that they have done a market research and
found their niche. Of women shaking and twerking their bodies with barely
anything covering their bodies as if there is nothing to lose. There is nothing
to lose if you have the money to convince a vixen to trade her dignity. This is
hip hop. We rise from nothing to something. To something that we unfortunately
remain unbothered to trace its effects.
Nowadays
people on social media are entitled to hustle however they want and in this
concrete jungle it is the bad asses who come on top. The videos have done
relatively ‘okay’ judging by the current state of hip hop. As if reacting to
naysayers Crooger has defiantly cleared the air out whilst
on the other side Kikky lashes back at those who criticize her risqué
behaviors. The fate could have been different for the later given her
flexibility on the mic. You can refer to her Megatron challenge and dancehall song One One. Maybe things could have been different considering the
local music landscape. You remember when she featured in Enzo Ishall video as a
vixen and how that got immediately outclassed by raunchy dancer Beverly Sibanda?
Many have been impressed by her verse on Simudza
Gumbo but the majority of music listeners will never know because they
simply do not want the ass shaking.
Quoting
a scholarly perspective fron OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN IN RAP MUSIC VIDEOS by
Jamie O. Broadnax, Johnson (2014) gives an explanation on the definition of
what and who is a video vixen in the music industry as she writes: “The video
vixen holds a special place in American society’s underbelly. Good hair, firm
breasts, round ass, slim waist, and pouty mouth, - she is beautiful according
to the European and African American standards. She is both reprimanded and
applauded for her roles as the model, the part-time prostitute when necessary,
the vixen who steals married and taken men.”
In
a nutshell, hip hop unlike an academic institute or sporting activity you
cannot have set prohibitions on certain elements chosen by the artist to reach
their targeted audience.
Yes,
there is room for clean music and there is also room for sexually demeaning
content.
And
artists should always be wary of the objectification and misogyny rooted in
this kind of niche. So should the audience.
Share
with us with your thoughts.
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