'There's some whores in this house:' Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's 'WAP' as an anthem of Black female empowerment
When Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion released their sexually explicit song 'WAP,' they were met with resounding success on music charts across the US, in addition to major backlash from conservative US individuals. Using a Trap feminist lense, I argue that by fulfilling sexual scripts of Black womanhood in their song 'WAP,' Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion reappropriate these scripts to take back ownership and control of their bodies and sexuality, making it an anthem of Black female empowerment. To do this, I analyze aspects of both the lyrics of 'WAP,' and the music video that accompanies it. The lyrics of the song reappropriate the Freak script by centering themselves in their sexuality and sexual pleasure, while the music video excludes traditionally masculine imagery and displays the rappers dancing in community for their own pleasure. Thus, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion resist misogynoir and reappropriate the Freak script for Black female empowerment.
Object Details
Creators/Contributors
- Wansley, Emma - author
- Schwartz-DuPre, Rae Lynn - contributor
Collection
collections Scholars Week | Conferences and Events
Identifier
1803
Note
Location: Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Date Issued
May 18th, 2022 to May 19th, 2022
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