DON'T DIET, RIOT

FROM March 23, 2005

One of the truly stupidest things about New York's hell-machine of transaction/ascension is the idea that, in certain circles, cultural capital can render one more or less datable, i.e. "He's everything I've ever wanted, but he's only second-tier editorial!" Or the idea that some dudes would not date a woman that wouldn't garner them the collective thumbs-up from their man-friends--real-world locker-room ass-patting, like driving a Ferrari, or being told the Bose stereo is better than the Sony: buy that one; envy and admiration shall follow suit. We devalue even in our own eyes, whether we're models thinking that's all we're worth, or not-models getting the "nein" because some dude's A&R friends don't cosign our fat thighs.

This correlates loosely with the Hip-Hop & Feminism panel I attended tonight [update: Imani Dawson's story on the panel] two-and-a-half hours of unmitigated chaos--Remy Ma on the mic without a beat behind her was, tonight, truly a morbid experience--though I woulda coulda maybe thought she was cool and fun, were she not verbally destroying something I care about so deeply. Her tack: "No one is forced to be a girl in a video. There is no responsibility to be taken. He's not talking about me, specifically, when he says 'bitch' and 'ho,' so" failing to see herself, or the possibility of herself, in other people. Stanley Crouch and Johnnie Walker backed out at the last (reasons given: "the flu" and "surgery," respectively), so it consisted of Remy, Akiba Solomon (she-ra of Essence mag), Jean Grae, radio journalist Karen Hunter, and DJ Beverly Bond. Barely moderated by Thabiti Boone, a man who I admire for co-founding the Hip-Hop Political convention, but who, unfortunately, turned the discussion over to the audience after about five minutes, which resulted in aforementioned chaos. Despite certain panel problems, and Remy's, erm, monopolization of the discourse, I dug out a few basics from the mess, some of which we already knew:

1. The portrayal of women in hip-hop is a symptom of a larger problem, which includes a complex web of late-stage capitalism, media consolidation, and 600 years of American racism. [Karen Hunter: "You cant solve a problem unless you know where it starts."]

1b. Just because it is a symptom does not mean we are powerless, or that we are excused in our complicity.

2. Someone is seriously profiting off the thong-thonged and Nelly-with-a-leash videos, and it aint necessarily Superhead... nor is it necessarily Nelly. (see 1.)

3. We are, to paraphrase Krist Novoselic, a country in crisis.

4. Hip-hop feminism didn't quite hit critical mass tonight (it hardly even got to the feminism part tonight), but a lot of ladies have a lot to say about it. This is a positive first (second, third, fourth) step.

5. The portrayal of men in hip-hop isn't all cake and ice cream, either.

6. It is seriously fucked that the Grammys eliminated the "Best Female Rap Artist" this year. (Credit: Jean Grae)

7. It is also seriously fucked that Clear Channel has banned "I'm Black" by Styles P. (Credit: Akiba Solomon)

8. Can Jean Grae eat?

9. This nice lady recommends Dr. Eileen Southern's The Music of Black Americans: A History for context.

10. Hip-hop feminism, like most social justice movements in 2005, could really use a good point person. (or is point-person/sole-leader an archaic notion--is organizing about "The Hive"? tell me, o wise politicos) I totes nominate Akiba, or Elizabeth Mendez-Berry (perhaps as co-conspirators).

'Xcuse the cursory nature, but I'm saving the paragraphs for the print piece. Surely soon we'll hear more from Jay and Hashim, both in attendance.