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When did hip-hop become a cesspool for misogynoir, and furthermore, how did it become such? How did an entire genre built on the foundation of Black liberation, through the lens of musical storytelling, become a breeding ground for the degradation of Black women? These are questions that continue to populate my inner thoughts and group messages as the digital skirmish between 50 Cent and T.I. continues to heat up, with Black women becoming the casualties in this melee.
Over the last week, we’ve seen a seemingly innocuous discussion about a potential Verzuz battle between the two veteran MCs transform into an explosive exchange of spiteful remarks and actions eventually targeting T.I.’s wife and R&B icon, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, alongside 50 Cent’s deceased mother, Sabrina Jackson (a was jab even taken at Tina Knowles who posted in support of Tiny). As the barrage of insults, from both parties, continues to intensify, what’s become clear is that the bullying of Black women remains a subtle yet driving force of hip-hop.
Now, let’s be clear — 50 Cent is the modern-day architect of the war against Black womanhood within the hip-hop community. Instead of capitalizing on previous successes within the realms of music and business, he’s decided to, instead, profit from the disenfranchisement of the very same Black women who’ve uplifted said endeavors. Over the course of the last few years, the mogul has frequently used his social media accounts to mock and torment Black women, including former Power star Naturi Naughton, Ashanti, and now Mrs. Harris, for no reason whatsoever other than his perceived antiblackness. This harassment, coupled with the self-induced pimping of himself and his brand to MAGA loyalists, signifies that the “Candy Shop” rapper would rather align himself with white supremacy and project his misdirected anger on prominent Black women. But the question that I and, likely, every other spectator have is simple — why not get in the booth?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 03: In this image released on October 10, 2023, T.I. (R) and family attend onstage during the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2023 on October 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
If I’m being completely honest, I was excited to see T.I. and his sons, Domani and King, immediately jump to defend their matriarch, including on diss tracks. As the sole son of a Black woman, there’s no end that I wouldn’t travel to in support and protection of my mother. It wouldn’t even be an afterthought. While I disagree with the hurtful jabs thrown into the ring surrounding 50 Cent’s mother, especially considering she’s deceased, I do understand and resonate with the men of the Harris family, and I don’t believe we can police the way someone responds to (repeated) disrespect surrounding their loved ones. Truthfully, the course of events has excited me because I believe they signify a new direction in Hip-Hop in which the respect and protection of Black women are no longer optional.
We’ve seen this industry all but create smear campaigns against Black women like Megan Thee Stallion, Michel’le, and others for speaking out against their abuse, transmuting their survival into harmful social media discourse. It’s been normalized, within this landscape, to discredit Black women, their appearance, and their experiences to uphold the patriarchy that allows violence and harm to prevail at the expense of these women’s mental health and social standings. It’s also become common for the court of public opinion to autonomously collaborate with digital hate trains to become co-conspirators in the disenfranchisement of Black women. Those memes that 50 Cent routinely posts that leave Black women vulnerable to attacks, and the insidious words left in their comment sections and direct messages by mentally unwell fans (or stans), along with the constant discourse born of unbalanced and misogynistic podcast discussions, all contribute to the problem.
As social media continues to expand, I fear that so will the virtual abuse of Black women. Mrs. Harris’s appearance or that of any Black woman should never be used for social media fodder in the same way that the onslaught of attacks directed toward 50 Cent’s deceased mother is inappropriate. While this “rap” beef continues to escalate, it does bring me joy that the phrase Protect Black Women is not dead and very much alive, thanks to T.I. and his musically inclined family. I don’t agree with all of the tactics, but I concur that Black women must be protected at all times, and if this is an indication of where the genre is headed, let’s go.
