Question of the day???
Posted by Media Outrage on November 25, 2008
Ok its time to get those brains moving. Here is our question of the day that the staff here was in heated debate about earlier. Oh and yes to our lovely loyal reader YEA I SAID IT, there are females on board here at Mediaoutrage.com lol. Here is our question: Do you feel that the way women are portrayed in hip hop videos has more to do with the producers, rappers, and directors than it does with the actual women who line up to land a part in these videos? Do you feel things still need to change image wise in the video game?
Now check out a vide of Dollicia Bryan talking about the video ho game in which she clearly makes a mistake as far as monetary figures are concerned. She says that video chicks were earning $10,000 a video a few years ago when the industry was making lots of record sales. She’s definitely mistaken or delusional.
Yea I Said It said
@ MO.. Thanks for having women staff members,now can you women let it rain men for an entire day with the men of our choice?
I cannot believe any woman was ever paid &10,000.00 to be a so-called video ho. I always felt the women that line up for parts in hip hop videos has more to do with themselves and their self esteem,cause check it what woman knowing the basic of a negative rap song, and the kind of person rapping would put her self out there to be degraded in the manner we see come across the screen. After the shoot it’s a free for all with him and his crew.
I don’t know but I am guessing the producers are going on the message the rapper wants to put out and how he wants to be portrayed. A self respecting woman would’nt consider this a way to make a living, women looking for fast money and maybe a pay day if they are lucky would….
Just my opinion.
Dickwell Thrust said
The way a woman is portrayed is a collective decision. The record label gives the check and OK to the producer and director. They tell the woman how to act and what to wear and the ladies perform their thing.
Now, since records aren’t selling anymore and BET and MTV are cutting their video time slots down due to the internet you are going to see a change…It’s no more yachts and Bentley with Dom P pouring on ass cracks its more of the hood in the Publix parking lot videos with old cars supped up over bullshit 808 beats. Cheap, Cheap, Cheap!
So these chicks out here trying to show case that ass on myspace better cover up or go porn because there is no money in being a video anything unless your holding a microphone or camera!
Yea I Said It said
@ DT.. Is not the decision based on the rapper and what he wants? And the women that line up for face time can they not say thats not a good look for me?… After all they define how some people look at women in general,,, even if we as women know thats not who and how we are
cupcakestl said
I will have say the women that go in for a women degrading song knows she will have to be the kind of women they are talking about in the song.
It is up to the producers and etc. to bring out what the song is talking about.
So if the rappers would stop making butt,cat,whore slut songs then the women wouldn’t have to go be whores on TV and the producers wouldn’t have bring it out.
It begins and ends with the rappers cuz the girls needs jobs and the producers have to do what they have to do.
BEATBANGA77 said
They do it based on what sells.. Among blacks what sells is ass long hair and and an ill beat.. Thats it. If your askin for someone to carry a note your askin way too much.. So among female artists you got Beyonce and the list is continued… Among rappers you got any hood rat that looks good in a thong.. No problem ya not askin her to sing she just gotta put on some baby oil lip gloss get a good enough weeve and a decent eye arch and she’s strait..Budget is way under.. beause they come to the video expected to already have that done…
It’s all about the $$$$$$ LOLOLOL!!!
Dickwell Thrust said
@Yea I Said It:
Only big name rappers can do that. Little known guys don’t line up anything the Art director or Ass. Director does that. But honestly if women want the images to be tune down its up the women to say yes or no to whatever demeans them. But like i said before all that is going to change because there is no money to even pay the women anymore.
Miss E said
We have to realize that we live in a sexually aroused world..SEX SELLS!!! Anyone that is in business (no matter what sector) is aware of this one factor!
Women who aspire to get in on the action in videos are just capitalizing on their physical characteristics (it’s sad but true), ALL JOKES ASIDE.. if I didn’t have a few degrees I’d probably be either attempting to become a backup dancer for Bey or in Lil Wayne’s video shaking my tale! Because life is hard and everyone needs paper to survive…whether it’s $150 or $10,000 bucks…these women need it!
Now do I agree with the image portrayed in these videos, I truly don’t! People are quick to judge others based off of their outward looks…I had to start wearing my glasses again because some co-workers did not believe that I was competent or educated enough to perform my job! Some of these girls in the videos, could be college students trying to get by or some could be seeking their 15 minutes of fame.
Jolie said
They are all responsible, the producers, rappers, directors & mainly the females who are allowed themselves to be protayed in such a negative way. The blame first must go to the women, they allow this to happen because they have this notion that this will make them a star or possibly get a rich husband. A lot of these females don’t think much of themselves period. They allow a bunch of disgusting pigs to do whatever they want with them for a few dollars and I mean a few dollars, if they even get paid. Some will tell them that they can use it as publicity for their career. Just look at the wife of a director, producer and rapper, they don’t look or act anything like the females that they put in a video. Look at Mellisa Ford, she’s been used so many times that she’s like a has been now. Can she blame anyone for her past & present action?? No. She only has herself to blame, becasue I’m sure she tought that she was going to be a big star or get a rich husband. Does she have any of the two?? NO. Look at that BITCH Karen Stephen, now she’s freaking crazy & chasing after men to love and marry her. No men wants you, they all got what they wanted already. What man wil marry a female that everyone has slep with & passed around?? Video ho, please stop lying about how much you really get to shake you butt in a video. No video ho ever got paid $10,000.00, when a producer and director can always find another startruck ho who will do it for less or nothing at all.
Udamnright said
I think it’s both sides. Like the director of the video is the one who presents the idea for the song. The rapper usually okays it and then the casting director selects the chicks. If it was really a problem for women on how they’re being portrayed then they could simply stop appearing in videos and that would force directors and rappers to portray them in better lights. But let’s face it sex sells. The old videos were cool also. You know the ones like Will Smith’s Parents just don’t understand. They were funny and told the story adequately. So it’s really up to the chicks. But being that there are women out here who live for exposure even if all of the video chicks stopped playing certain parts some chick named “Naquisha” from down the block would revive those same roles lol.
ucanb2 said
Interesting post, I personally believe blame lies on both sides.. women for not taking a stand/ and those that portray them in such a way. Because at the end of the day to some it is just a job, a means to an end, but it causes the next woman to be harassed because of her assets hips/butt/breasts/legs. Having to prove your self/intelligence/knowledg because of your looks/figure is ridiculous but true…
Atlanta said
Actually, I heard the women WERE making nearly 10 stacks a video when Melissa Ford and Superhead was in the game. I don’t know how true it is. But as far as the producers and shit portraying women in a negative way. HELL YEAH! Also, they are making these little girls think this shit is okay.
BitterSweetBelizean said
I feel everyone is to blame. The Director, video model/ho/vixen, the media, the consumers, record company, everyone. There is not just one person to blame. Its a trickled effect.
if the consumers would stop supporting such non sense, then the artist and record companies would feel a loss in profit and therefore look for other alternatives to making money which would put the model/video vixen out of a job.
I miss the days when videos were actally videos,and i wasnt seeing ass, titties,legs, champagne, cars, and mansions in every other frame.
tai said
Regardless of who’s to blame the problem is for the most part Black women are portrayed as booty shakin, gum poppin, gold diggin, hood boogas. Not that white artists don’t have chicks in their videos but white women, or any other race for that matter, are not constantly seen as one dimensional play things. I could care less about the females that choose to toot their asses on camera b/c they’re already in the Black Girl Lost category, we need to be concerned for these young girls who see these videos & look at it as their reflection of beauty.
Jan said
First up, the sad thing about pop culture is that “sexy” equates talented in the entertainment industry. How many ugly entertainers (especially on the female side of things) do you see out there?
Now, there is NOOOOOOOOOO WAY IN HELL that there aren’t talented “ugly” females around doing their thing. They just don’t get the backing, nor the approval of our sheep like society. That’s sad. When you have total airheads like Fergie strutting around like sluts influencing our kids with GARBAGE…..that just makes me shake my head.
So with that said. It’s not the producers, aritsts, labels, or the females fault for being a video hoe because that is what sells. It’s society that is to blame. It’s the fact that we listen to this garbage and support this nonsense.
I am in the process of writing a book on my views and my utter disgust with civilization. Hehehe I’ll send MO a copy.
Yea I Said It said
@ Post #12,13,14… I am so feelin you on your point of views
claudette4heisman said
I’m not going to write a book on this subject,but I just think it’s about choices. There is always going to be sexual explicit music videos out there, but that doesn’t mean you have to watch them. It’s called a remote, or that X in the right hand corner of your web browser. Kids are being influenced by these things because the parents are ALLOWING IT!!! Parents today are leting MTV,BET, and VH1 raise their children.
When these women go out for these video auditions, they aren’t trying to be good role models, and people don’t understand that. They are just trying to get their faces out there and maybe become the next Melyssa Ford,or Eva Mendes. Video directors are usually just putting a visual with the lyrics of the songs, and this whole cycle begins with the rappers. Don’t get mad at these women because they are just trying to make a quick buck, get mad at the rappers who make these degrading songs. I mean,how many sex songs can Plies come out with???
RubHer said
Feelin you Miss E.
It’s not specifically the directors, rappers or the women, it’s a cultural thing. And it’s not just African American or urban culture, it’s the dominant Western civ. culture. It’s always been human nature but today it has to do with market morality. Everything’s for sale. Wealth worship, baby makin and disparity got shit crucial. Music artists need to take our music where the people need it. “I know a place”
Jan said
Here’s some “real” music by a “real” artist who I really like these days. Not very popular and I don’t know if you guys will “feel” it but his songs are quite deep, to me anyways. Name is Gary Jules.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpvGsNCBRz0
Just wanted to share
Hovy's home said
Jan that was funny about there being “ugly” talented females out here lol. I think both sides are to blame. We as consumers have to demand more by being selective in what we allow the music industry “record execs” by spending our power “money” on bull ish. I came from the era of Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Public Enemy, Rakim, Ice Cube and other spitters who were really talking about society while promoting having a good time. Somewhere “gangsta” rap infiltrated and took over.
Yea I Said It said
@ Jan I was kinda diggin it…
They never tell you truth is subjective
They only tell you not to lie
They never tell you there’s strength in vulnerability
They only tell you not to cry
But I’ve been living underground
Sleeping on the way
And finding something else to say
Is like walking on the freeway
They never tell you you don’t need to be ashamed
They only tell you to deny
So is it true that only good girls go to heaven?
They only sell you what you buy
And I’ve been living underground
Sleeping on the way
And finding something else to say
Is like walking on the freeway
I’ve been living underground
Trying not to burn
And finding something else to learn
At Hollywood and western
Is he on the same path of Tracy Chapman? I love her music
Jan said
@Yea I Said It
Glad you like it. “Mad World” is his most popular song which is a pretty cool song. I really like all his songs, can listen to the whole album and not skip any songs. Rare these days. Really chill music.
He’s pretty similar to Tracy. They both have a folkish sound to them on some songs and they both mix it up on other tracks.
Miss E said
@ Jan, thanks I will check out his music!