dr. joyce says...WHO YOU CALLIN' A BITCH, HO NIGGA!!! THIS ISH IS GETTIN' OUTTA CONTROL!!!!!

I mean Damn!! Never did I think I would hear Russell Simmons - the godfather of hip-hop, the creator of Phat Farm, a stakeholder in Def Jam Records, the former husband of Baby Phat's Kimora Lee Simmons - say that "bitch," "nigger," and "ho" should be banned from hip-hop's linguistic repertoire. Neva eva eva did I suspect him to support "that" movement. That's problematic and let me spend the space of this blog explaining why. (Sidebar: I've never heard a rapper say "nigger." But anyway...moving right along)

First and foremost, it's not the gun that's the problem. It's the person that uses the gun. In other words, why are we making Imus' "ho" movement hip-hop's "ho" movement? What does Michael Richards' "nigger" movement have to do with hip-hop's "nigga" movement? See, this is what baffles me about us black folk. We sit around and let someone elses issues become our issues.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a doctor. I'm well-educated and have some of the most notable thinkers as mentors. I know that I need to be critical of the issues we face as African Americans. But I face these issues with the main idea in mind: the problems in the black community did not start with hip-hop. The use of these words did not begin 30-something years ago in the streets of South Bronx.

What did start, however, was a culture that is masterful at taking something and using it for its own glory and benefit. We took jeans and made them sag. Now every nigga (that goes for wiggas (white niggas) too) let their jeans and pants sag. We took Adidas, Puma, and Nikes. We made those popular too. Now each brand has an "urban marketing" department headed up by somebody that associates themselves with the culture. We even took words and made them useful for OUR OWN PURPOSES. Am I making excuses? No, I'm not. What I'm attempting to do here is size up a situation that is more complex than invoking a level of sophisticated censorship.

Besides nigga and nigger are two different words used in different ways. The latter is the one that will get you on tv with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. The first "nigga" is the one that is used as a term of endearment from one black man to the next. See Tupac's "Strictly for my Niggaz." It's even used by women. Plenty of us refer to our men as our niggaz. "That's my nigga," I say sometimes. But then on Nas' "One Love," nigga is used both positively and negatively.

Negative use of nigga: "I was like yeah, shorty don't care, she a snake too
Fuckin' with them niggaz from that fake crew that hate you."

Positve use of nigga: I left a half a hundred in your commissary
You was my nigga when push came to shove
One what? One Love

Same goes for bitch, which is used to refer to both men and women, negatively and positively. See Pac's "Me and My Bitch," Missy's "She's a Bitch," or Jay-Z's "99 Problems." The word is also used to refer to a state of being a la Nas' "Life's a Bitch" or when Big Boi raps "Life's a bitch wit a g-string" on Call of da Wild. And what about Luda's "Move Bitch"? Bitch is used about three different ways that aren't all directed to a woman (except in Mystikal's verse.)

And ho, well that has multiple meanings too that are only understood within the context of the sentence or verse in which it is being used. Tone, voice inflection, pitch, they all matter. Think about it! "Those some nappy-headed ho's" is way different than "Damn that ho fine" or "Did you see dat ho? Dat bitch had the flip-flop candy paint and was sittin on some D's!" In the second case "ho" and "bitch" are used interchangeably to talk about a nice-looking car.

When Trillville uses the bitch-nigga combination to signify “Bitch nigga you can neva eva get on my level ho!” they are not loose in their verbal attack, but extremely calculating about who they are referring to as a bitch-nigga (and ho). In the May 2003 issue of XXL magazine one of the group’s members explains: “Actually, when we wrote the hook we was thinkin’ ‘bout people like [George W. ]Bush. That’s a Bitch Nigga!” Trillville’s coded yet direct language that refers to President Bush as a bitch-nigga is an ancient but improved way to prioritize a subordinated voice. Looking at the use of bitch and nigga in hip hop narratives adds to understanding the culture’s language, speakers, beliefs, expectations, and values. It is in this cultural framework that I we need to be having these conversations.

In hip-hop culture bitch and nigga are frequently used in the texts, lyrics, and dialogues. More than any other racial or gendered epithet , they carry the most linguistic weight. Tupac uses bitch 27 times, and nigga 121 times on Thug Life Vol 1. On Snoop’s DoggyStyle, he uses bitch 56 times and nigga 129 times. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz and their guest artists blare nigga 120 times and bitch 72 times Kings of Crunk. On Straight Outta Compton NWA (Niggaz With Attitudes), nigga is rapped 45 times and bitch 30 times . Missy Elliott and Trina are both self-proclaimed bitches. Missy is featured on many rap songs where she professes her “bitchatude.” Trina titled her debut album Da Baddest Bitch. And you can't tell me that the way these words are used are all the same. They aren't!!! Check for yourself.

I'm appalled at Mr. Simmons just like I'm upset with Oprah. But Oprah? Well, I grade her hip-hop literacy on a curve. Last week was her first show on hip-hop. But Russell? Nahhh, Rush! I can't support you on that one. And I will be very surprised if you get the support you might think you will get. I mean, I just can't see Young Jeezy not saying "nigga" or "ho" or "bitch." I can't see dead prez not using "nigga", "bitch", or "ho" when talking about the public school system or prison industrial system. Shoot, I can't see myself not saying "bitch," "nigga,", or "ho" when I feel it is appropriate.

The reality of the situation is that IT'S STILL BIGGER THAN HIP-HOP!!!!! Calling for rappers not to say these words is like telling some one - grown or young - that they can't do something. The result is that they do it anyway with more fervor than before they were told not to do it. Is there a problem of sexism and misogyny in hip-hop? Yep. It sure is!!! But here's the other thing. There is a problem with misogyny in America and WOMEN PLAY A PART IN IT.

Ok, I was about to conclude this blog. But I gotta say this.

WHY IN THE WORLD DO THE LADIES OF SPELMAN COLLEGE ACT LIKE THEY DON'T BE IN THE CLUB LISTENING AND DANCING TO THIS MUSIC??? HELL, DO A SURVEY!! SOME SPELMAN CHICKS PAY THEIR TUITION A LA MAGIC CITY, STROKERS, BLUE FLAME, ETC!!!

AND WHAT CLUBS DO THEY GO TO? ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES SAID THAT SHE WALKS IN THE CLUB AND NIGGAS JUST START CALLIN HER A HO. ME AND MY GIRLS WANNA KNOW WHAT CLUB THAT IS CUZ WE AIN'T NEVER WALKED IN A CLUB AND DUDES JUST STARTING SAYING "HEY HO!"

People, let's stop ice skating over these most necessary elements of the conversations we need to have. Russell, tell these industry big wigs to stop inundating us with the negative hip-hop that makes it look like all we do is call ourselves bitches and hos. Balance out the radio. Balance out the music. Let the people hear that there is more to hip-hop than extreme curse words and snitchin'...

TO BE CONTINUED