My Unpopular(?) Opinions About #Wap

When I started this blog, I said that the purpose was to give my opinion on a variety of issues. The social discourse surrounding Cardi B's and Megan the Stallion's new number one song and accompanying music video has caught my attention, and prompted me to share my thoughts. I am not a fan of most of the mainstream music of this decade so it is not my bop(it's 90's and 2000's music for me). However, unlike many of the commentators online, I am not going to pretend that I "accidentally" (do we look stupid?) heard it. Because of the hype surrounding the release of the song, I watched the music video on the same day of its release. I have no real opinion on the song itself, however, I do have opinions on the discussion. Living in a country that tends to be highly conservative at convenient times(yes I really just said that, sue me), I expect that my thoughts will not be popular.


1. The song was created by ENTERTAINERS - Cardi B and Megan the Stallion are entertainers. It is their job, like all others in their field, to capture and keep our attention. #Wap should therefore be seen in this light, as a source of entertainment. If you don't find it entertaining, just don't listen. It's that simple.

2. Sex is a part of all forms of entertainment - If you think this is the first song to ever talk about sex, you must live under a rock. All genres of music and all television have been filled with references to sex since the beginning of time. Is it really the topic of the song that bothers you, or is it because it is performed by two black women? When you click on your porn video(where women are notoriously forced to perform actions they don't want to) and it uses the hashtag #Wap in the title, as I am sure many are bound to do and probably already are doing, will you click off and say this is why you don't want daughters? Which brings me to...

3. If you don't want daughters because Spoiler Alert, women enjoy sex, you are a misogynist - How dare two black women sing about the sacred male subject right? You can call women what you want, and sing what you want, get on your block and in your group chats and refer to women as "things", but god forbid we talk about the pleasure we derive from sex? You can make demands in your songs about what your sexual partners must do, but women are horrible creatures for stating what they want their sexual partners to do. Riiight, Ok. As I said, you are a misogynist(and yes you can be female and perpetuate misogynistic ideas). If you don't want daughters because two women sang a song about sex, why do you want sons?

4. If Cardi B and Megan the Stallion are your child's role models maybe take a look at your parenting - Entertainers are not there to be role models to your children. They are there to entertain and make money. My daughter's father and I are her main role models. Other role models include family members, family friends, and teachers. The music we grew up with was littered with sex and drugs, yet I am sure in your opinion you turned out well(I might beg to differ about some of you). Growing up, one of the first songs my sister taught me to dance to was "ride the punany" at 4 years old when my mom was not home. We snuck and listened to all manner of "vulgar" songs, yet we both waited until we were truly ready to have sex, neither of us do drugs, and we  are reasonable and contributing members of society. This is because my role models were my mom, my aunt, and my grandmother, not musicians. My mother talked to me about all these topics, as a pre-teen and teenager, which had a huge impact on me. So maybe get off twitter condemning musicians for doing their job, and have a conversation with your children.

5. I can understand why some people see it as empowering - The mere fact that there is such a huge discussion around a song, is grounds for some to view it as empowering. Many late millennials and older gen-z women will find it empowering because men are the ones always singing about sex, while women are merely the silent objects of these men's desire. Yet, here are two women, reclaiming the narrative, and enjoying the fact that  they are desired, while also talking about what they themselves desire.  Musicians such as Missy Elliot, Lady Saw, and Tanya Stevens, who sang about similar topics would probably have had a similar effect on older millennials like myself. However,  at the time, I was simply enjoying the music and not delving so deeply into it. Just like number 1, if the song is not empowering to you, just don't listen to it. You cannot tell someone else what is empowering to them. You have not lived their experiences, you do not have the same priorities as them. And just because they believe something different than you, or choose to live a different lifestyle from you, does not make them wrong. Who made you the arbiter of all that is right and wrong?

6. You think the song is the most terrible thing on earth, yet you are helping it to trend - You do know that while you sit at home complaining on twitter or wherever else while using the #wap hashtag you are in some small way helping the same ENTERTAINERS to get their bag right? I'm sure they don't mind though so keep doing what you're doing and thinking you're hurting them.


As I said in my introduction, I know that this post will bring some backlash. But I would not be fulfilling the mandate of this blog if I did not add my two cents to the mix. The other mandate of the blog is to spark discussion. So I would love to hear your thoughts on why you agree or disagree with me. Tell me why I am wrong, and explain your position. I don't think you will change my mind, but I am definitely open to understanding your point of view. Comment below, and share this blog post so others can get in on the discussion.