-Michelle Obama

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I thought my years of entertaining Donald Trump by making him such a prominent subject on my platform were over. Alas, here we are, a whopping eight years later, in 2024, and I’m back to my angsty, rage-fueled opinions about the fact that we could even consider this jackass a viable candidate. And then I remember we elected this sorry excuse of an orange Oompa Loompa as our President! Over people with real political backgrounds! Say what you want about politicians. We all know they’re pretty shitty. They don’t typically have our best interests in mind. And with an ongoing genocide in Gaza that we’re currently contributing to with our tax dollars, it’s difficult to even think about supporting either candidate. However, the truth is that one of those two candidates is threatening the rights of most people here in the United States. And without those protections and liberties here, it’ll only prevent us from having any resources or emotional bandwidth to stand up to the atrocities happening overseas.

Although I wasn’t the most excited about supporting Kamala, her VP pick made me feel more hopeful to have someone who at least appeared grounded and relatable. Sure, it’s another older cis white man. But beggars can’t be choosers. I must admit I have a fear that came to light during Trump’s first astonishing win. While it’s obvious that Hillary was an unpopular candidate, the blatant sexism her opponents displayed to discredit her merit and experience was unsettling. And it’s the same reason why many believe Kamala had to pick a male running mate. The country isn’t ready for an all-female ballot. We see that demonstrated daily in our news coverage, SNL skits, and even from other politicians. So, it causes my feminist-forward-thinking mind to ask the question: Are we as a country finally ready for our first female President, or will our close-minded beliefs and patriarchal views stand in the way?

When I was young, I wanted to be the first woman president. Hell, maybe it will happen if I finally go to law school or get into politics. I mean, we did elect a reality TV star. That was apparently easier than having a President with two X chromosomes. Six-year-old me definitely thought that history would have been made by now. While there’s no doubt that having a misogynistic predator as a President does nothing for women’s rights, it’s upsetting to see just how quickly the country jumped onto the bandwagon of insulting Clinton with female-connotated slurs like bitch and cunt. The country wondered why we would want her if Bill Clinton didn’t. Granted, we are the same people who call women like AOC sluts and whores, constantly remarking on their appearances, whether they’re objectively beautiful or subjectively unconventional. Michelle Obama is far too masculine and robust, threatening the status quo of being graceful simply because her biceps display her work ethic and discipline. We even constantly comment on Melania, with Trump supporters thinking she’s the sexiest First Lady ever to exist and Democrats criticizing her for posing nude and continually looking like a helpless deer in headlights. We are forever holding women to their own separate standards, pinning them against one another for our entertainment, and focusing on their modesty and choice of designer rather than their accolades. Half of the country is ready to re-elect a man who has been accused of sexual assault on numerous counts but could not stop screaming about a woman and her emails. It makes you stop and wonder: Are we as a country truly ready to see a woman step into that high position of power when women’s rights and safety are constantly being put at risk?

We see our strong, fierce women rappers endure the same treatment. Hip-hop is notorious for being anti-politics, and there are plenty of bars disrespecting politicians of all parties. And yet, the parallels in this instance are uncanny. While I am a huge advocate that Hip-Hop isn’t quite as misogynistic as people stereotype it as being, those diss tracks often bring out the anti-women bars, with rappers threatening to fuck politicians’ wives and referring to women in politics as bitches and cunts with ease. A mild example comes from Benny the Butcher, the Alchemist, and Boly James’ track, “Brickmile to Montana,” where they brag about a “whole lotta carats, I can’t see how you’re ho not embarrassed. And I put a bitch in a white house way before Kamala Harris.” As I mentioned, this will be a relatively soft example compared to some of those to come. The line not only disrespects the woman in question but diminishes the esteemed accomplishment of being the first female president, showcasing women and their priorities through the male gaze. And if you’re referring to your partner who you’re going to move into a house as a bitch, then that’s quite telling of how you see women in general. Juxtaposing such a milestone with domesticity also reminds us of how society views women, seeing the ideal archetype as the perfect housewife rather than the first woman in the White House.

The Objectification and Sexualisation of Female Politicians

It’s common to rap about sleeping with someone’s wife in rap disses. Or sister. Or mother. Or other women in their life. It’s an easy shot. When relating this to the scope of politics, some of those wives mentioned are also in the limelight. Take Bill and Hillary Clinton as an example. While everyone is entitled to their opinion of Hillary, her experience in the political field is extremely impressive. When objectively looking at the role of President and her primary opponent (because, let’s face it. No matter how exceptional other candidates are, this is a two-party system), she was the only option qualified for the role. And yet, people hated her with ease, consistently referring to her as an evil bitch while remarking on her sex life with Bill Clinton. Nelly’s “Grillz” had us out here singing that we “got a bill in my mouth like I’m Hillary Rodham,” boiling her down to a wife fucking her presidential husband rather than being a state senator. In Logic’s “Disgusting,” he similarly remarked on their dynamic, concentrating all of his attention on her when he rapped that he “stayed with Bill like Hillary,” highlighting her decision to remain married during infidelity, a move women are often deemed as weak for doing. Throughout the election, critics consistently brought up Bill Clinton’s adultery as a jab against Hillary. At the same time, he was celebrated for his accomplishment despite it resulting in his getting impeached.

When discussing the affair, we have to talk about the infamous Monica Lewinsky. Rappers positively love her, name-dropping her in clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics as she became the one political fantasy to flourish in Hip-Hop. After the scandal was released, she became a cultural phenomenon, with hundreds of lyrics referring to her escapades, often in pretty gross manners, especially considering her age. We tend to neglect the predatory aspect of that relationship. Despite Lewinsky’s claims that it was consensual, she was still only 21 years old at the time, and that doesn’t even take into consideration the power dynamic that was so evident. Instead, her merit and promise in the political world came down to being referred to in songs like Gucci Mane’s “Freakiest In The World,” where he raps, “Monica Lewinsky, bitch, you just sucked on the president.” While the lyrics were already crass, the added bitch in the line feels hate-fueled and aggressive, really showcasing how much society diminished her value. Although the bulk of the lyrics regarding the scandal praised Bill Clinton and referred to Monica either as a hoe or in somewhat mid-tier blowjob double entendres, Lewinsky has used all of this as fuel to become an influential activist, writer, and public speaker, especially for anti-bullying campaigns. She has also handled the repercussions gracefully, even coining herself as a rap song muse in her Twitter bio.

And, of course, it’s no surprise that Eminem also took the opportunity to refer to both her and Hillary in multiple songs and videos, taking that aggression to an inhumane and violent level. He’s known for rapping against female public officials, probably because it seems to combine his two most hated things. For instance, he measures the duration of his musical career in “Rap God” by spitting that he has been doing this “ever since Bill Clinton was still in office, with Monica Lewinsky feelin’ on his nutsack.” With his notoriously misogynistic and anti-political rhetoric, this affair became the perfect ammunition for his juvenile flow, creating numerous bars around the liaison.

Secondly, in his track “Role Model,” he raps, “that would mean I lie and get more fucked than the President does. Hillary Clinton tried to slap me and call me a pervert, I ripped her fuckin’ tonsils out and fed her sherbert.” Remember that this song is from 1999, far before Hillary had the damaged and hated reputation she has today. Instead, in a typical Slim Shady manner, Eminem threatened violence against a woman just because that was kinda what he was known for. That said, we see that more modern take on Hillary in Lil Darkie’s song, “Swamp,” where he raps, “the rapper is the new politician, the rapper is the new democrat. Republican, better remember that. We always talk about where we are never at. The rapper is the new Bill Clinton, lookin’ for an evil bitch, Hillary.” While this is not at all a Hillary Clinton stan article by any means, it does make me laugh that we could almost equate the hatred towards Hillary to the Salem Witch Trials, something that would not be possible were she a man. Yes, politicians are pretty all-around terrible. This isn’t meant to convince you otherwise. But it’s the ways we hate female politicians that feel just extra…personal.

But don’t get it twisted; it doesn’t take sexual scandals for these strong politicians to be diminished to sex dolls and angry bitches. In Chris Webby’s “Raw Thoughts IV,” he threatens every relevant female figure in politics, in addition to the wives of the men he wants to lash out at, regardless of belief system or political party. He begins his repulsive, rhythmic monologue by first attacking the former Speaker of the House, rapping, “and Pelosi, that evil Golden Girl with her cronies. Ilhan Omar and A.O.C., all of you can blow me. And Kamala Harris too, I’ll run a train on the whole fucking crew. No Scott Wiener, not including you.” Say what you may about politicians as a whole, but essentially threatening sexual assault on a group of women is repugnant. While it is common for us to separate politicians and humanity, there is no world in which sexual threats are okay. But it doesn’t stop there. He continues on to attack some of the renowned conservatives, rhyming, “Mike Pence, who’s obsessed with his wife. So I consensually had sex with her twice the other night. Told me she ain’t had the dick in weeks so I fucked her on your pile of Bibles, Mike. She really is a religious freak.” At this point, who are you even trying to insult?! Even when politicians have significant others, primarily wives, who are not involved in politics, they often get dragged into the conversation. They commonly become the casualty. And it seldom has much to do with their merit. Instead, they are treated like accessories to the men in power, with their appearances being at the forefront and, in the case of rap lyrics, their sexuality as well.

In Immortal Technique, Diabolic, and Ras Kass’s “Payback,” the artists present a similar case of weaponizing women, reducing them to collateral damage while stripping them of their autonomy. In the song, they threaten, “I got a better punishment for these Republicans. I’d let ’em live so they can see us overthrow the government. Let’s fuck with them, have the first lady beat me off till my semen’s launched, then I skeet across her face like Peter North. And I won’t leave a doubt what we about when I cream her mouth or leave her trout bleeding out on Condoleezza’s couch.” Once again, threatening violence against a woman for your own personal gain or satisfaction is foul, no matter who is in question. And it shows just how quickly we disregard the female body, often viewing them as our punching bags even when they aren’t in the wrong. The vocabulary is disturbing and threatening, especially against female politicians like Condoleezza Rice, who was name-dropped in the verse.

Not every lyric slamming female politicians is as intense or as violent. Sometimes, the sexism and micro-aggressions are just that: micro. In Baby Gravy’s “Touch Grass,” he raps, “Gravy train runnin’ for the Senate. AOC reached out, might hit it.” While the line is silly and innocent, it demonstrates where our priorities often lie regarding women, even in essential positions. We quickly overlook the things that matter, such as their work and impact, instead focusing on superficial qualities. Yes, it’s incredible to see a bold, beautiful young woman changing the face of politics by sporting a bright red lipstick, especially since it seems to piss off conservatives everywhere. But why not mention the qualities that truly make her stand out? By electing our first female President, I hope we stop focusing on surface-level impressions and traits. Instead, we’ll view women for their multi-faceted skills and duality.

No More first ladies, we’re ready for our madame president

Despite the perception that Hip-Hop is a counter-culture, it has often mirrored society’s feminist movements. The second wave of feminism is about equality and liberation, a standard that women continuously fight for in politics and hip-hop (and reproductive rights and wages. The list goes on.) While women were rapping about being viewed as equals to acquire a voice and establish a presence, especially in emerging industries, they shifted to rap groups, usually dominating the tracks as the one female powerhouse. As a result, they were thought of as the First Ladies, demonstrating that they stood tall in stature and lyrics, holding their own among their male counterparts. Some of rap’s biggest voices, not only among the female subsect but among all rappers, embraced this role, as we see in songs like “Spell Check.”

In the song, Lil Kim rapped, “first lady at the top of R-A-P, I’m on my T-O-E-‘s getting that D-O-E-. B-I-G M-O M-M-A, no info for the D.E.A,” establishing her dominance in the Hip-Hop industry. But it begs the question, who’s the First Lady without the President? Assuming the role of the First Lady still denies you of power. You’re not at the top without a man by your side, and even then, you don’t get to call the shots. You are granted the honorary title when you marry into the role rather than earn it. As a result, by claiming the title, you are already ranked lower in importance than the other members around you.
Similarly, in Nicki Minaj’s “Who’s Ya Best MC?” if she’s claiming to be the best not only in the group but in the rap game, why is she claiming, “Young Money First Lady, ya know, baby girl of the group. [She’s] also known as baby girl in the coupe. Never get [her] confused with baby girl in the hoop, cause Nicki stay fly like that Cash Money dude.” Taking on the idea of being the “baby girl” contrasts with the power dynamic in a way that can either downplay her importance or enhance it. But playing into the wively role of the First Lady does nothing to make her character stand alone. Instead, it establishes a dependency, as if Nicki is only badass as a woman doing what she’s doing rather than being a badass because she’s a woman doing what she’s doing. Being strong and powerful does not diminish your feminity. It enhances it. Hang with the best and show them that you’re just as dope, and your womanliness makes it much more impressive.

Gangsta Boo’s “Hard Not 2 Kill” is another incredible example. Gangsta Boo is among my favorite rappers. Yes, she holds the spot as number one among female rappers in my eyes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t compare her to every rapper out there. She ranks in my overall favorites as well. Which is why I get frustrated when she rapped that she was “the first lady of the motherfucking Tripe Six/the first one to call a hit on yo’ fuckin’ crew/the one who got you whacked cause you fucked with Gangsta Boo.” Gangsta Boo spends the whole song demonstrating her exceptional rap skills to prove why she’s not only the hardest out there, but men need her, and yet by assuming the role of First Lady rather than President, she’s compromising her power for the sake of gender norms. Throughout the song, she calls the shots. She’s doing what needs to be done. Yet, the First Ladies are considered to have ceremonial powers, with more societal influence than political ones. While the role has grown in importance over the years, it still doesn’t compare to the Presidential power and the lasting impact of those decisions. And let’s be honest now: some of these First Ladies of Rap have presided over the Hip-Hop industry for years.

imagine a world…

That said, some rappers in recent years have been comfortable sharing their vision of a strong woman running the country. In 2016, while the female candidate was by no means the most beloved, she was absolutely the more substantial option when looking at qualifications in our two-party system. Hell, we were literally comparing a politician to a reality star. When Hillary lost, a lot of us were overcome with a feeling of despair, fear, and uncertainty, unsure of what was to come. One project I’ve mentioned a lot on Spice because of how imperative it was in my ability to cope was the Tribe Called Quest album. The album, released the day the results were revealed, seemed to foresee a different outcome for the elections, as evident in some of the lyrics. For instance, in “The Space Program,” the group mentioned, “the president’s refined, in her wing she’s confined with about thirty Percocets and five bottles of wine.” In the song, they paint the president to be the cliche middle-aged white woman, which would have been the case had Hillary won. Instead of pulling the album release and changing the lyrics, they kept it as is, depicting a world where we elected our first female president and the majority saw Trump for who he is. Although the mentions throughout the project were subtle and brief, they were a reminder that one day, a woman will be sitting in the White House.

Lil B also showcased his support for our first female president in his track, “Bitch I’m Bill Clinton Swag,” when he expressed his admiration like a long-lost lover. Honestly, this is one of the few times I’ll advocate for gender dynamics. In his song, Lil B mentioned, “I need Bill Clinton to light up the weed, shout-outs to Hillary Clinton. You ’bout to win that president shit, for me you gonna be president soon, baby.” While everything Lil B is outlandish and over-the-top, this is a really respectful way to support women. Yes, it’s silly. But he isn’t saying he wants to sleep with her. He isn’t remarking on her body. Instead, he’s simply saying, yeah, I recognize that you’re a politician in addition to your husband and you also stand an equal chance!

Furthermore, Wyclef revamped his famously political song “If I was President” for the 2016 election to speak up about the first potential woman president. He opened the song by rhyming, “she say she gon’ be the first and the next to lead the eagle out the nest.” While the eagle symbolizes the president in the world of politics, it also represents leadership, courage, and hope. Having something as subtle as juxtaposing that with the pronoun, her, feels exciting and uplifting. The line itself is so inspirational in terms of making a change and an impact. And yet, the use of female pronouns feels normal and natural, as if it hasn’t taken us this long to have our first female president. Still, the nest feels homely and feminine, bringing a warmth to the White House, which is quite honestly typically provided by the First Lady, most likely due to her nurturing femininity. It’s a beautiful dynamic that women can embody that having a female president could bring to the position. Wyclef closes out the song by rapping, “but I could be the president, and you could be the president and she could be the president, and we could be the president,” looping back to those feelings of hope and aspiration. Again, that emphasis on ‘she’ represents all the things women can and will do, as we will see in this next election when history is made.

In H-Town’s “Visions In My Mind,” he celebrates the power of women and the things they’ve yet to accomplish when he rapped, “woman finds new Aids cure to life, Presidents, she is for mankind.” Women have accomplished monumental milestones across industries despite the limitations presented over centuries, and there’s still so much more for them to do. H-Town believes that even with all of the challenges presented in life, women will be the ones to solve those problems. Similarly, a woman president can bring about change like we’ve never seen before from a new and innovative standpoint. Although the role of the president in the United States has proven to be a double-edged sword, having a woman in the position may change that in positive ways. He continues on to say, “women presidents coming, women save our children/women rule the world.” With empathy and emotional approaches to problem-solving, a world in which we have a woman president will tackle issues that often get neglected. It won’t be an overnight change, but we hope a historic moment like this will make a difference worldwide.

it’s time for a woman to be in power

As we prepare for the possibility of finally making history with our first female president, it’s essential to recognize the women who have withstood the brutality of working in politics in what is conventionally a man’s world. In Common’s “Get It Right,” we celebrate that our democratic candidate is not just a woman but “a woman Vice President that went to Howard.” We get to celebrate African American and South Asian representation as we hope to correct her past actions, living in a time that continues to strive for more progression and equal rights. Common continues celebrating the strong femininity pushing for change when he raps, “I see it in the waters, I see it in our daughters. They could be bridges that know no borders/peace to Stacey and the people of Georgia who galvanized so that we could move forward. Steps of order with the presence of mind, everything’s more beautiful in time.” Stacey Abrams deserves recognition in this song, not only as another African American woman who made history as the first Black woman to win a significant nomination for her role but also for continuing to push for voters’ rights when she was constantly put down. Putting more women like those mentioned in power is a symbol of change all in itself. As women, we are relentless and resilient, continually facing adversity and criticism. We lack recognition and equal rights, and we face sexism all around us. But we always strive. The strong female politicians who represent feminism with pride and stature need support. Even if we don’t think our votes matter, putting more women in prominent positions will bring about the shifts we want to see for our future generations.

This post is not meant to glorify politicians or absolve the Democratic party of the change that needs to happen, especially overseas. It is not meant to put these figures on a pedestal by any means. But there is blatant sexism in the world of politics that needs to be analyzed. And it’s just one of the many things that need to change. While neither party is ideal, there is one option that is most susceptible to making these differences and listening to our voices. By electing a figure like Donald Trump into office again, we are ignoring the women who have been subjected to his remarks, his disgusting actions, and the criticism of his supporters because they were brave enough to speak up against him legally. It is doing injustice to not just women but minorities, to Americans, and to those overseas who need American resources but also need politicians who are even just a little more likely to listen to the people. Yes, the thought of our first woman president is incredible. It’s historic. Sadly, it has taken this long and has to be seen as monumental after all that women have done. But, by electing Trump as the President again, it’s 5 steps back for women and 10 steps back for America. I encourage you to vote. I encourage you to exercise your rights and pressure politicians to make changes. With Trump back in office, who knows what could happen both locally and internationally.

If you enjoyed this post please please share and subscribe below.♥ I’ve attached a playlist with the songs mentioned above if you want to listen. Check out Philly’s Phinest and Featured Artists for upcoming talent to discover new artists. We also have a new Spiced Sessions page that showcases our latest events around Philadelphia, with our newest one taking place on Sunday, September 8th, so go take a look! I hope to see you out at the polls in November where you may find me working at your local polling booth. Do what you can to get involved and tag me with your I Voted selfies!