“There’s some whores in this house:” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” as an anthem of Black female empowerment
Research Mentor(s)
Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre
Description
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.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2022
End Date
May 2022
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
CHSS - Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
“There’s some whores in this house:” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” as an anthem of Black female empowerment
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
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.