Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP: The Epitome of Women-Empowerment?

Back when 80’s Rapper Kool G released a song in 2012, ‘Hey Mister Mister’ and unapologetic-ally perpetuated the notion of physically abusing his girlfriend for cheating on him or Drake’s ‘Nice For What’ with lyrics that go like “These hoes! They hate! Your boy! Today!  . . .Bend it over, lift it up, bend it over, lift it up, make that jump. . .”–  are just as demeaning as it gets for women.

Misogyny and rap have gone hand-in-hand since the 90s with violence and rape culture often being blatantly disregarded and grooved on. From just twerking in a music video that is derogatory to women, to attaining the title of the female rapper, there is minuscule transformation there. But when female rappers like Lil Kim, Eve, Cardi B or Nicki spit out honesty and embrace their sexuality, it is overshadowed by their sex appeal. Why?

As a woman of colour and the kind who is passionate about rap music, I take serious offence when female rappers are tarnished for revealing skin or jiggling their bust and even showing their cleavage. It’s treated as an attempt to lure men and live our male fantasies, though this is furthest from the truth. And that is why Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP is so important.

Cardi took her own time to release yet another controversial song since the one’s we have already known her for. Her last single, Press was released back in May 2019 and since then she has dedicated her time to her daughter, Kulture. And when she took to Instagram on 4th August 2020 about her latest release WAP with Megan Thee Stallion, fans couldn’t control their excitement. And why would they? Cardi is fearless, be it in her songs or while openly dissing Trump for unethical behaviour.

Megan has been on an inexorable rise since her smashing entry into the Hip-hop scene with ‘Stalli Freestyle’ in 2017. Even with the current Instagram-trendy collaboration with Queen Beyonce, Savage remix, she seemingly is topping the Billboard charts. Post her traumatic incident with Tory Lanez, one would go into complete hibernation but this 25-year-old is not the kind who backs down. In an interview with Variety, she stated,

 

“I’m not the type of person who can stay down for a long time. I don’t like to be sad or keep myself in a dark place, because I know it could be the worst thing happening, but the pain and the bad things don’t last for long.”

Hailing from such controversial back-stories, it was certain that their collaboration would mean a revolution. The kind that would be embraced by many and resented by few. After all, ‘Haters gonna hate hate hate…’

The term WAP means Wet-Ass-P*ssy and if you don’t like that, then the song is way too out of your league. This song has become an anthem for women empowerment, for all the right reasons.

The lyrics of the song is all about the WAP and the different ways women enjoy sex in the course of their life. And why is this essential, you ask? Because of the undeniable need to exercise your power as a woman and take ownership of your sensual needs. This is the true definition of empowerment, the unshakeable influence of yourself on you.

The song is not casually addressing sex but is asking you to be loud and joyful, just as how sex is meant to be. That is the claim Cardi and Megan truly stand for in this entire song.

What accounts to be the best part of this provocative NSFW song is the appearance of many Queens like Kylie Jenner in a leopard printed, skin-tight fabric, even Normani and Rosalia who have each been influential and out-spoken about their needs. And in the video they are seen in different rooms within the gigantic mansion, just doing their thang!

There was a Twitter outbreak as to why Kylie’s appearance was forced into the song. While many felt that Kylie has no significance, Cardi came to the rescue and stated on Twitter;

“It was so important to me to include different women, that are different races and come from different backgrounds but are so powerful and influential.”

WAP is not your everyday dose of music or an entertaining piece where women are just sex objects performing for commercial success. There is so much to visually grasp and mentally comprehend in the video. Before dissing it or devolving it into being derogatory, try to open your mind to a new perspective that shows women in the light of enjoying sex as they like it!

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