A Black Women's History of Explicit Lyrics

[@IntelexualMedia]

90slexual.com/

[@frankyelysa]

Ouhhh, I am so hyped for this series!!! Go Lexual Go 💅🏾

[@marshunnaclark5829]

I like the website a lot!❤ Keep going!😊

[@jennifernabrahamable]

what a gorgeous website and your pictures are amazing! You work really hard to put all this together and as someone who was a kid/teen in the 90s I am SO looking forward to this!!!

[@MrDMC11889]

I'm someone who feels that we infantilize the youth. Anyone with sense wouldn't let their 8-year-old listen to Megan Tha Stallion. How old is old enough to distinguish between real life and entertainment, though? 16? 18? 21? I actually find these explicitly violent lyrics more disturbing. Still, I think we both agree that none of it is for children. I just don't know where I'd draw the line.

[@Obi431]

Yes, I don’t think highly of pussy rap, but I think the larger problem is that there are no other archetypes of mainstream black female rap… black men have J. Cole, Kendrick, Big Sean, Drake, Travis Scott, not just 21 savage, and lil baby, all noticeably different rappers. When it comes to black women, it’s as if there’s only one channel on TV… black female image diversity is the real problem

[@EmpressRose777]

My mom smoked cigarettes my whole life. She always told me to never pick one up. I seen her addiction throughout my childhood. She eventually quit before she passed. Im 32 years old now and have NEVER smoked a cigarette in my life. So dude was wrong....not all children pick up bad habits especially if you teach them.

[@LuckyOuijaBoy17]

People are also INDIVIDUALS so…..there’s that too

[@vGamesandMusicP]

Every child of smoker I know does not smoke and generally dislike being around cigarette smoking

[@sidiousHotep]

The brother was wrong when he said that all children pick up bad habits , however i do hear the message that he was trying to say, which is ultimately as a parent you should be your child leader & guide, so lead by setting a good example to your children. I know that as a 43 years old Black man my big bother, & my big sister & i we had good parents that set a good example for us, plus we listen to our parents, which is something that a lot of children do not do, instead they choose a lot of the times to listen to their so-called friends & others misguiding them.

[@dentindahousee9635]

Wow. I could tell commonsense is very short with you. Your mother literally told you not to pick up a cigarette so that’s why you don’t smoke. It’s a different another household. There’s always one exception to the rule that doesn’t count. Carry-on.

[@EmpressRose777]

@dentindahousee9635 Wow, and I can tell the comprehension and simple thought agility is short with you. This was just an example. There were plenty of things my mom warned me of, and I had to learn the hard way..... First day on the internet?

[@shazzari]

I see why Rihanna made sure to let us know that she’s nobody’s role model & it’s up to us to raise and guide our kids as we fit coz this is a lot of responsibility placed on the artists

[@perfectallycromulent]

people gonna treat her like a role model even more for saying that, because now she just sounds even more authentic. whether or not someone views you as a role model is up to them, not you, telling them they can't doing isn't gonna work.

[@os3734]

Cardi B has said her kids cannot listen to her music. That speaks volumes.

[@VeryKinkyCurl]

Rather she wants to be or not that’s what comes with fame

[@VeryKinkyCurl]

@@os3734She got her nerves

[@enoumoh2039]

​@@os3734maybe because kids shouldn't be listening to adult music.

[@LizNeptune]

I loved the lady who talked about how her daughter listened to lil Kim and had straight A’s… that’s cause she’s an active parent! Get involved in your kids and their lives, teach them right from wrong! Don’t let the TV or music raise them! Have hard conversations. I had to catch myself the other day saying “it’s not for kids”… sure some things aren’t, but damn I was watching nudity and love scenes in movies since I was young af. I wish someone had talked to me about it instead of pretending it doesn’t exist! People trying To “protect kids” all wrong!

[@LilLadyAy]

I sat, watched and enjoyed action and horror movies as a child with my mother and could ask questions, I don't know if she screened them first or not. Most things aren't for children even if they're rating isn't adult, their could be no cussing or sxx but the influence is strong, this is why you're right about being active, we watched Disney and Nickelodeon 'children's shows' with my little sister and they definitely misguided children.

[@LizNeptune]

@@LilLadyAy I feel extremely mislead by Disney movies and so many romcoms that are family friendly.

[@LilLadyAy]

@@LizNeptune yes, romcoms too! On another channel we were just going in on a number of them, some horrible messages.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@LilLadyAyA lot of those Disney and Nickelodeon shows also had a lot of disgusting racist, misogynistic, classist, and grooming messages that the writers and producers tried to say was ok and laughed at the very appearance of a fat person on screen, like Victorious. Like they were so not kid friendly if we analyze them. 😭

[@LilLadyAy]

@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 exactly, they push bullying that goes straight to the playground. Hannah Montana had a few episodes were the tomboy friend being a tomboy was suddenly an issue because she hadn't kissed a boy, they were about 12 at this time, by the end of the episode she's kissed and is googly eyed with some boy we never see again, she was also an embarrassment on another episode at about this age when her contact lenses didn't arrive in the post so she had to wear her "big dorky glasses", "big dorky glasses" was also the tragic backstory of the school 'mean girl', who is actually just the rival, who is blk and has her soulful singing voice mocked by their hipster teacher who they're all too involved with. I knew that Nick show with Ariana Grande was off, I remember the drinking sketch, no surprise to learn about the writer.

[@xxMercy]

My mom didn't censor my reading or my music when I was 12. That little girl being shamed on TV is so bullshit and Kim's response is so frank and on point and said in a respectful tone

[@IK_4]

I noticed that too. A lot of people don't realize that Lil Kim has always been very soft spoken and respectful in real life.

[@DJC819]

Kim’s answer was very respectful and she treated her like a young person instead of a child with out any agency.

[@molokoslavyanskoye]

So did mine mom And guess what ? I have no interest in dating or sex

[@ignaciopullum9891]

As long as she has God in her life?

[@PrettyPrincess9609]

Although I do feel like black women should be represented in a variety of ways not just one way because we aren’t a monolith in 2023, I’m so tired of both black men and women blaming Megan thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Sexxy Red, and Suki for the downfall of the black community. 🙄

[@frenchgirl5878]

Let’s be real, it’s not the light skinned women like Nicki minaj getting the most amount of criticism. It’s the unambiguous black women like sexy red and Suki. Women like ice spice and Nicki minaj will be called sexy and iconic while monoracial black women will be called ghetto for doing the same things. The same reason why Cardi b is popular (being “relatable” aka ghetto asf) is the same reason why women like sexxy red get so much hate. Hypocrisy.

[@jackieade6599]

*YES!*

[@franchesskaw36]

​@@frenchgirl5878💯💯

[@jovibeanz5561]

@@jackieade6599wait, but didn’t suki have someone tw3rking on a young kid in her video? i thought that’s why people don’t fw her

[@kasharianthony3661]

​@@frenchgirl5878meg definitely gets that hate as well. I hate when yall pretend sge doesn't!

[@sydney9011]

The "but what about the children?!" argument is one of the limpest, weakest and frailest arguments ever

[@m.d.1395]

It's a cop out. What they really want to say is that they're uncomfortable as adults. Instead, they hide behind kids they likely don't raise.

[@exceptionallife4768]

This is why anyone of substance chooses women of other races … if you are ghetto and don’t care about children you aren’t worth anything but sex.. and that’s changing these days, not even worth that This single mother stuff is breeding people who don’t even care about children

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

fr fr

[@shaffy856]

Well as a parent I hate that as much as I try to keep my child from being exposed to content it's everywhere. Whether it's a celebrity or her peers. Promiscuity is a trauma response

[@نجمة-ت8د]

@@shaffy856that’s not other peoples responsibility to monitor what your children are exposed to. Do better.

[@ebbiejae]

Not only is your content dope .. it’s consistent .. I love it .. doesn’t seem forced and thoroughly researched

[@IntelexualMedia]

thank you!

[@concamon1364]

"got bafoons eatin' my pussy while I watch cartoons" Lives in my head rent free 😂 It's such a stupid and funny line. Lil Kim will always be iconic.

[@annectialee3965]

Same 😂

[@Tornado1994]

@@annectialee3965 Lil' Kim WAS ALWAYS saying controversial things like that. I'm pretty sure you've seen her 2001 Music Video "How Many Licks".

[@LAHA759]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@KingMike-un5vz]

Kids are raising kids under nobody is raising is focused on raising families anymore

[@wolfboy20]

Bruh me too!! That line is hilarious😅🤣🤣 😅

[@AlekcisIwiye]

Conservatives did more to promote WAP than the actual artists and record labels. I mean I LOVE that song, but I wouldn't even care to listen to it if it wasn't for the backlash.

[@DeannaBaileytheRavensFan]

I already liked Cardi B, and the conservative outrage made me like it even more.

[@qqqqqqqqqqqqqq7665]

@@DeannaBaileytheRavensFansame honestly

[@SSRIs]

Likewise for Sexyy Red.. all the hoteps sitting around on their little podcasts with dissertations on why & how sexyy reds music, image, her entire existence is detrimental to the blk community only helped to increase her visibility, music streams. Their ridiculousness helped to increase her popularity 😂😭 and I love that for her

[@brandonjablasone7544]

You sound like a sick individual. The sound was appalling

[@Ashley-lo1xy]

I don’t even keep up w/ pop culture like that, but I knew about that song bc the ppl outraged would not shut up about it!😭

[@tabbykat8564]

i've noticed that the "think of the children" argument is only really used against women when it comes to the music industry. we have men writing these extremely explicit lyrics, a lot of which are violent and anti-woman in nature, and never face any criticism for it. meanwhile, a woman raps about sex and there's a moral panic. it's never been about the ''children.' women can be used for sex but when a woman says "yeah, i'm a sexual person and i like sex" suddenly everyone's outraged.

[@IcomanSB]

In terms of public figures, the only person I've seen really been talking on the lyrics of male rappers has been Charleston White.

[@quietstream8206]

I won't lie people do talk a lot about the influences of rap music on Black boys but not about other genres dominated by white men

[@sunrope77]

I am so moved by the way Intelexual Media acknowledges and shows respect to so many black American women in history whose legacies have been overlooked. I’m happy to see people shake up the field of academia and introduce narratives that previously were not taken seriously due to racism and misogyny. Keep up the good work Lex!

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

Every one of her videos has at least one Black person's name I've never heard, and I'm a pretty scholarly individual... Edit: Last part was pure satire. Legit just realized that might not be clear 😅

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Right? Absolutely OBSESSED with it! I wanna read more academic work like this that focuses on Black (American) Women like she does with so much nuance and talent. Ugh, a genius.

[@_KayBee_]

The amount of research it must take to makes these videos essays seems strenuous. Appreciate your hard work and effort.

[@IntelexualMedia]

thank you!

[@maddym4020]

seeing the little girl get interrogated on live tv for listening to lil kim was actually really fucking heartbreaking. like is it really worse for a kid to listen to music where someone raps about sex or to be made to admit to an audience of people they don’t know that they secretly listened to someone rapping about sex…

[@tristanband4003]

Same. I wanted to give that girl a hug. Esp. being talked down to like that. Further, she was 12 years old. Not a woman yet, but definitely not a little girl anymore.

[@TediTheGodfather]

It's always bothered me that people put the onus on artists to "think about the children" in their audiences when crafting their songs and image, but rarely do you hear "teach your children the difference between art and reality." And it goes beyond music; people have attacked video and board games for contributing to violence, books to witchcraft, etc. But I understand that "pussy rap" (quoting because it's a new term to me) and sexual Black female music has been unnecessarily and excessively scrutinized and denigrated. Either way, another dope video, Lex. Can't wait for that 90s video.

[@louisachalarca6494]

And it’s the same people on lives saying to hit children

[@TediTheGodfather]

@@louisachalarca6494 beg pardon?

[@echoformsart]

@@TediTheGodfatheri think they mean that a lot of people with conservative view points that preach about stopping sexually explicit art in the name of “protecting children” are often the same ones in blind support of things like corporal punishment which has been proven to be harmful to children and functionally abusive by psychological standards. TLDR: Oldheads don’t make sense

[@Rastaferrari829]

A lot of them don’t even bother to not play that type of music in front of their kids.

[@TediTheGodfather]

@@Rastaferrari829 I grew up on early "pussy rap," as well as pretty much any other subgenre with exception to horror core. I also grew up on hypersexual R&B. My mother played all of it, but my sister and I were made well aware of the separation between art and reality. It was never what we listened to, but we did with what we heard or saw (movies, TV, video games).

[@JH-lb6qf]

I'm ready for this dissection of Misogynoir. Drag them sis!

[@lamarlo4437]

How does that empower you? Is trauma bonding porn a coping mechanism? The women were writing and reciting the lyrics and justifying them. This date's back to the 1920's with Jazz. Black men are not the Boogeyman

[@lisafranklin9089]

YES🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@fangal12]

@@lamarlo4437 the misogynoir is the demonization of these women. These are entertainers, like any other. I didn't see the same pearl clutching by black men when hearing Too Short's explicit lyrics or any other male rapper but black women are treated like everything wrong with the black community when they say the exact same thing.

[@lisafranklin9089]

Girl, he missed the bus but you him took to school🙌🏼💗

[@lamarlo4437]

@fangal12 Yet they're women who listen to Too $hort just as much as men do. There are women who gladly twerk and recite everyone of his lyrics. I seen 3 women do a dance routine to his song in church. Let's talk about certain black women who openly glorify black men killing eachother through gang violence by saying they only date shooters. Some are Posed up with their boyfriends with guns posting it online. These same women have sons and promote this behavior.

[@LilLadyAy]

That 12 year old should *NOT* have been put on blast like that, Lil Kim handled that beautifully, much better than that noisy man who wasn't engaging.

[@chipa761]

Funny how some parents care enough to complain that an artist has sex lyrics but not enough to actually check their kid's phones and talk to them

[@willis7404]

“I also READ so I don’t need all my rap music to contain world events, societal ills and lessons” This part is so true! Music is entertainment and should be fun. There are plenty of great books and black authors and activists that the ppl complaining about pussy rap can do more to promote.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

YESSSS! And I’d LOVEEE to hear from them!

[@jimams_jamz5518]

Tbh no matter how much those activist books get promoted, they could always be buried for revealing too much. Using the media to talk about social issues will reach a wider audience. Half of the population doesn’t even read books anymore so talking about social issues in rap music will always be good in raising awareness to problems in the community. Obvs it shouldn’t be the only type of rap but at least we got the option to listen to coochie rap, or rap on a problem involving our community.

[@nezzylearns]

Your stance on supporting women's choices to be or rap explicitly but also stating that progress can be made was made so perfectly.

[@thepriceisright048]

A foundational piece of black feminism for me was lil Kim’s interview with bell hooks

[@sidiousHotep]

@thepriceisright048 Black feminism help to destroy the Black community & Black feminism help to destroy the relationship between Black men & Black women. The majority of Black feminists have that independent woman mentality, a lot of Black woman who called themselves independent women do not know that when they called themselves independent woman are only mirroring white supremacy, the independent woman concept was created during slavery when in the Willie Lynch letter he said to all the other slave owners in order to separate the Black man & the Black woman from each other make the Black woman independent of the Black man.

[@azabachezapata6816]

So that exists?!? 😍😍Wooah! I'm watching it right now!🔥🔥🔥

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

@@azabachezapata6816 My thoughts eggzactly

[@rashidapittman8513]

Do you know where I can find that interview? Is it on KZbin?

[@Oir07]

Let’s not forget who invented feminist 😅

[@studiorez9086]

Let us not forget Ms Millie Jackson, a pioneer of raunch and rap. Her “Phuck U Symphony” is the stuff of legend!

[@dannydamnmendez]

I was actually super disappointed to see her not be mentioned, she is an unsung legend

[@doreensika837]

Yessss! My fav is slow tongue. The music itself is soo good. I always play when I wanna get freaky.

[@Jennyboomboom88]

Lex!! This was so good! You said it best, “entertainment should not be raising your kids” period!

[@emilyrln]

"Think of the children" is code for "I'm too lazy to have a sensible and honest conversation with my children."

[@XabeebaX]

I was low key waiting for a video like this...I encounter so many dudes online that say Black women are "dEgEnErAtE" nowadays...and it's like even in the early jazz movement, there were Black women saying s*xually explicit lyrics, lyrics that described even queer love. If you're doing to argue against it, at least have your historic facts straight. It's nothing new, and Black women aren't even the only women to express explicit concepts and ideas through art/media. You can find similar themes in ancient cultures throughout Africa even.

[@BozeDoesGodsWork]

Black female rap music right now is basically just club music to turn up to. Which is not a bad thing since pop music has always had the initiative to make people dance or bob there heads. But I’d rather listen to confidence boosting songs than mumbling ones about murdering people and gang violence 24/7. Male rap has been very low vibrational these past few years. With the exception of only a few of course.

[@XabeebaX]

I never said I like it, I said it's always been here...@@BozeDoesGodsWork But I will say, many are lyrically talented and can write bars (Nicki) even if they are "low vibrational", at the same time, there's the men rappers, who aren't even lyrically talented and are responsible for way more "mumble rap" these days. I definitely do think it's a reflection of our economy/society, the kinds of music, especially within hip hop, that get's personified, and become main stream, but that might not be bad thing

[@juicemane7655]

Most of those men are on the DL are could never get any love from a woman. So it enrages them, those mgtow wannabe alpha Redpill dudes all Sus these days

[@TheLovesnowangel]

Europeans even expressed it in sculptures and painting but people only want to attack black women smh

[@tamiadixon8312]

@@BozeDoesGodsWorki can agree with this! Female rap is fun

[@ZEBEEtheoriginal]

We should also discuss the writers behind the lyrics not just the performers. A lot of men were writing lyrics for most of R&B.

[@jasondawson92]

Also Babyface, R Kelly, Diddy La Ried etc was apart of that written process

[@Mr.Jaquaveon2k]

@@jasondawson92You can’t compare that type of music writing to todays overly exposed sexual lyrics ..you just can’t

[@ٴٴٴٴ_0]

Including white men. Oversexed female pop stars are mostly a male, white invention

[@margaretm8640]

As I’m sure you’ve heard a million times, I LOVE YOUR CONTENT. I honestly think video essayist/historians like you should get some type of honorary bachelor degrees from all the research you do and papers you put together. Thank you for taking the time to put all of this together. You’re my go to when I’m working out, doing chores, or doing work ❤

[@amethystdream8251]

That woman on the talk show interviewing that 12 yr old girl about Lil Kim's music...the girl is clearly uncomfortable the way she is covering her face. Who's to say which is more inappropriate or harmful to the girl's psyche, Lil Kim's lyrics, or the girl being put on blast on public television when she is so obviously not ready or comfortable to have this discussion with adults, who now know she listens to those type of lyrics and can project all sorts of bs onto her?

[@SlapstickGenius23]

The girl being interrogated is more inappropriate than the explicit lyrics.

[@iamdemigrace]

This was a fabulous summary. As an artist and a black woman, thank you ✨

[@lemonsgj]

I love that you teach the culture. I’m a Gen Z and seeing this is so enriching to my mind. Appreciate you for what you do on this platform

[@nobody8328]

People didnt used to be so uptight about children knowing about sex. My grandfather grew up in a one room cabin and was the oldest of 8. He grew up listening to his parents make siblings, and didn't think any more about it than hearing someone using the 'night pot'. To give an example, the US is one of very few countries that have age restrictions to buy alcohol and stongly discourage minors drinking. We are also one of the few counties that has a problem with young folks binge drinking. Making alcohol forbidden only makes it more interesting to teenagers. Same thing with sex. Statistically, open and frank conversations tend to cause teens to wait longer to have sex, have fewer unwanted pregnancies and fewer STIs. Hiding information doesnt make people 'innocent', it just makes them ignorant and unable to make informed decisions.

[@5600block]

Skinny dipping was the norm just a few gens ago. Can't tell me things didn't happen when everything was slippery and wet 😂😂

[@kaylao.3326]

Damn your great grandparents were fucking right there in front of your grand dad when he was a child? Sheesh. And it was a one room cabin so they were all in the same room? I understand sex needs to be normalized and everything but goodness gracious

[@ranbummerz729]

Learning age-appropriate sex ed as a young child (~6) helped me identify the abuse of my friend at the hands of her uncle. The "activities" she learned from her uncle didn't sit quite right with me so I told my mom because it was different from what I was told were acceptable physical interactions. He went away not long after this came out

[@LuckyOuijaBoy17]

Way to save you @ss at the end lol I was about to go off lol none of that was sounding like it made a lick of sense

[@bloopityboop]

Alcohol should absolutely be age restricted, though. People, irrespective of nationality, do stupid things when they are heavily intoxicated. Why is this an argument?

[@louisachalarca6494]

The visuals and editing just keep getting better and better the content is perfection and researched as always

[@DeeDaKaang1]

Sexy Red, Sukihana, and just about every other insert name here __________ stripper, IG model, or OF girl are really like WWE wrestlers simply playing a part.

[@missekevu33]

My thoughts exactly!

[@kqsystemzrecordings]

No They Aint. They bout that life. Megan, Cardi, Suki. This ain't WWE. Only Fans aint WWE.lmao Easy.

[@cocoteeeie]

@@kqsystemzrecordingsevery entertainer plays a part. They exaggerate parts of their personality or they fabricate a whole new one.

[@TheLovesnowangel]

Right! Sex sells and people keep giving them attention. Any press is good press 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@juliusrandle2733]

And "entertainment" is called PROGRAMMING for a reason🤷

[@erwinmurry9602]

LOVE THIS!I appreciate learning about the many different ways that Black women’s sexuality has been scrutinized and artistically depicted. You always have such a wonderful overview of Pop culture.

[@parkeralexander8668]

As a huuuge fan of Lil' Kim and a stan of Cardi and Meg, I thouroughly enjoyed thhis balanced assessment of "P*ssy Rap". A lot of takes on this have been absolutely cringe because male rappers and artists are not nearly criticized for rapping/singing about the same topics when they propagate messages that are far more harmful and some do end up getting killed in shootouts or dying from O.D's. Its also ironic that there's been this increasing call for diveraifying topics in a lot of these mainstream femcees music yet the underground artists lile Rhapsody and Tierra Whack are paid absolute dust and their catalogues are not streamed as much when they are literally still active enough to live up to these expectations that some audiences want 🙄.

[@djmeagaaim17]

I think the producers play a big role as well in this as well. One of the reasons that people like Rhapsody dont get as much attention is probably because of the beats they are rapping on.

[@parkeralexander8668]

@@djmeagaaim17 I often wonder why that is? Don't they have dope producers who could put them on a fire beat like their male counterparts who dive into similar topics on more uptempo and infectious records? I also think that regardless, a lot of black audiences (especially males) who say they want a rapper like Rhapsody to get a mainstream push are disengenuous about actually supporting her because they are a niche audience who aren't really invested in her beyond just a handful of records. The likes of Missy, Lil' Kim, Lauryn, Cardi, Nicki, Doja, Meg etc have built a brand of celebrity around a character and their charisma. Its also not coincidental that these artist have a predominantly female and LGBTQ fanbase so if the more 'conscious' rappers catered and courted that audience they might garner more traction.

[@parkeralexander8668]

@@tribeofsha But then why haven't these criticisms against male artists ever reach a fever pitch? I'm sure we can all recall when Republicans and Conservative Media Syndicates were having a nation-wide panic over 'WAP' in ways that haven't matched similar outrage on male rappers with similar records. You even have male rappers and artists like Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, 50 Cent, Fabulous criticize this era of 'P**Ssy Rap' (forgetting they were peers and collaborators of Lil' Kim, Foxy & Trina) despite being the engineers of it via the video vixens they always had in their mv's.

[@soul-deeplevel-up6179]

@@tribeofsha the argument was that male rappers have not faced nearly as much (not none whatsoever) criticism for their lyrics about SEX aka “pu$$y rap”. That is absolutely true. The violence and drug use/dealing promoted in their music has come under criticism for mirroring the very real tangible harm being perpetuated in society by men. They have mostly been criticized for how their music influences black boys. Please read not to argue but to understand. There have been other comments in the same vein as yours citing religious leaders who criticized male rappers. However, the consensus is for black men who listen to rap to endorse and support male rappers. Then slam women for doing the same from a woman’s perspective (still highly tailored to the male gaze). Some people frown upon rap as a whole. The focus here is on those who have the double standard for no other reason than gendered norms.

[@sumlem]

Rhapsody, Tierra Whack, and some of Doechii's introspective songs are indeed streamed less. For Harriet has a video discussing how sexuality is marketed in rap, very interesting to think about considering that Cardi B had wanted certain songs to be hits over the sexual ones.

[@SpitGoblin]

"i wanna freak in the morninnn a freak in the evening" is the first song that came to mind 🤭🤭

[@mariellclement8092]

Adina Howard.

[@rowlaanbennett7296]

0:13 maaann Lil Kim was so damn BEAUTIFUL! I never understood why she NEVER saw it! She had all the girls in the late 90’s dressing like her!

[@ThemedNumber02]

You NEVER miss!!!!!! I don’t know what I’d do without your lucrative, insightful commentary on black women’s history in America. ❤❤❤❤

[@sakurachan9088]

when people were raving about how explicit and controversial WAP was in 2020, I just shook my head because I've heard more shockingly explicit things in dancehall. speaking of dancehall, there was a femcee called Ishawna who got dragged terribly, probably a lil kim scale of dragging, for a song she did called equal rights & justice which was a shape of you cover, all because she talked about men giving her oral sex in return for her doing it for them, it was extremely hypocritical

[@kharabrown2975]

Pause, Rapist Russell Simmons?? We gotta do a video about the men in the music industry?!

[@kellyowens4728]

I thought I was the only one that heard this.

[@aj2thamaxx742]

Yes, RS left the US of A because he was facing charges

[@kaylabean3693]

@@aj2thamaxx742him and Tom Hanks

[@cocoteeeie]

Kim really took a lot of hits for the sexual rap girl image. She was and is a trendsetter. And icon a legend

[@sondraedwards5205]

The blue print of the female rappers we have to day trendsetter/blueprint the model package that we have today

[@reginaldjackson4176]

Good Afternoon. Grace Jones, as well as Millie Jackson, should have also been featured in this video. Grace and Millie literally paved the way for ALL of the raunchy modern female recording artists.

[@chitownjaxxk7644]

Thank you for this ! I’m so tired of ppl blaming this generation for things they already been doing .

[@blackmusicmovement1278]

Millie Jackson is an underrated and often overlooked explicit artist. She had a whole album called Back to the Shit and the cover was her on the toilet with the panties around her ankles😂

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

Absolutely!!!

[@lchapo5469]

YES!! I was just going to mention Millie She was a BOSS

[@jasondawson92]

I forgot about her damm lol 😂

[@0Lu.Lu0]

I grew up sneaking close to the closed doors and partitions my mom sent me behind to try and decipher what I now know to be Millie Jackson’s Phuck U symphony, ICONIC; but I am also an adult WLW in my 40’s who gets exhausted and annoyed by the overplayed hyper-sexuality formula being BW’s dominant, male-controlled, and most influential representation. Entertainment is anything you entertain as an avocation opposed to your mandatory vocation, and it INCLUDES material that is intellectually uplifting (look no further than the history of Classical Music, Opera Attendance, and looking at Paintings and Sculpture for examples): for this reason I think Miss Intellexual fell a bit short with the comment about not needing all her music or rap music to be about the Louisiana Purchase and other historical topics; especially when you factor in problems within the would-be Black Community with Anti-intellectualism, and the fact that just as “Sex Sells” is just a fact, so is that most people still learn who Black People are from dominant media and entertainment representations, at least as a strong 1st impression.

[@blackmusicmovement1278]

@@0Lu.Lu0 I hear you. To be fair, I do think its another shift in feminism that must feel and look very drastic from that perspective. And also to be fair there are so many Rapsody’s, Chikas, Queen Latifahs, MC Lytes out there but same as with male rap we dont acknowledge or celebrate the way we do party music and bedroom music. I definitely feel misoginoir is a huge factor in that, as I feel too many men simply cannot take wisdom, intelligence or guidance from a women, their egos are too fragile and they have too many mummy issues. But also I dont feel like we should point the finger at the ladies making party and bedroom bangers - it all has its place. We have always created music to dance, and to tell stories. I think in the industry and society we live in the music to dance to will always win. Especially since the 60s and the fear that the hippie movement, in particular, drove into governments. Even now white people LOVE rap more than black people its actually insane. They dont wanna listen to Rapsody tell em to pay up reperations and spit bars bout the panthers they jus wanna try and shake their booties lol

[@plentyofmalk9130]

Look at how Zora Neale Hurston was almost lost to history over respectability politics.

[@Kai-mira]

Always hated the stupid mindset of blame artists or video games or whatever media for being a bad influence on children. Im just sitting here thinking, you blame all this external shit but dont take at look at yourself. Youre the parent. Do some parenting. Educate your kids about sex and how to be safe over trying to make everything some taboo. Like these parents werent getting it on in their earlier years..or sneaking around as teens. Stop blaming external factors and do a better job interacting with your kids..

[@GTwilight]

I still got my original Lil' Kim "Hardcore" CD with the paper booklet insert that I bought from Sam Goody at Northland Mall on 8 Mile and Greenfield back in the 1990's. It cost like $25 back then, that was grip back in the day.. I was 12 years old 😂 and in the first verse of track #2 she taught me about Heather Hunter and Janet Jacme 😉😁

[@bdet313]

What up doe!

[@blackgirlparis]

You from Detroit?

[@06van]

It’s always so crazy that ppl then and especially now still subscribe to respectability politics like it really works.

[@brandonjablasone7544]

It won't because nobody buys in to it. Why would it work when everybody don't have morals and respect for them self

[@blkdivinity5132]

It does, just not in music as much.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@blkdivinity5132No. it doesn’t work ever. 💀

[@Jamangel]

​@@blkdivinity5132...

[@jimmypackorino]

there was a show on VH1 in the mid 2000's called black to the future where black celebrities commented on and explained past prominent black events throughout history and your channel feels like a spiritual successor to that, such good content!

[@jaylinarchie5393]

This channel has taught me things I didn’t know I NEEDED to know. With every video I understand more about my race, culture and upbringing.

[@notyet3dna]

4:44 oh this lyrics had me down in tears plus the way you recited it sent me out...

[@myamia3677]

I cant wait for the 90s series!!! The nostalgia is gonna be so real❤❤ 10/10 love this break down of the progression of the sexual shock factor getting more and more overt and less poetic and thoughtful. But we all universally have made songs about sex. Older blk ppl clowning on sexy red and the ratchet vmas need to remember what they were condoning.

[@SolarMoonQuartz]

I have wholeheartedly been waiting on this topic specifically and you DID THE DAMN THANG! 👏🏾 I actually did one of my final papers for a hip hop college course on the come up of Black women rappers. Its beautiful yet bittersweet to see how far hip hop has come in terms of Black women.

[@hhh1234h]

The look I gave to my screen when that mom asked who would protect the kids from explicit music like 😒 go invest in a mirror and your mystery is solved

[@Marybestia]

You had me subscribed within the first minute of your video, and it was a f'ing add. I am here for this content, the space needs more if it!

[@DaUnapologeticKoolBruhdah]

Excellent Video...Surprise you didnt mention Millie Jackson...She did pave the way for BWP, HWA, Choice, Lil'Kim, Foxy Brown & The raunchy females acts of today.

[@preciousaryee2901]

Millie Jackson is a classic and a pioneer in the women's raunchy lyrics. Her album covers were so explicit. My mama loved Millie Jackson. She's still active and doing shows I believe. Lex should check out her Unsung if she hasn't already.

[@johnnierock1090]

I was shocked no mention of Millie Jackson either…Queen Millie a G. Also Vanity 6 with “Nasty Girl” was way more risque than The Mary Jane Girls “In My House” good video and great dialogue though I enjoyed it.

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

One person who is usually forgotten about is Wanda Dee... She was one of the first rappers to rhyme about sex...

[@preciousaryee2901]

@@fedoramcclaren4294 Wanda Dee? I will check her out. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

@@preciousaryee2901 Thank you for listening... 💜

[@CraigStanley]

Excellent video! I’m mostly shocked at the bad rep that Kim got and it is so refreshing to hear this retold accurately as an adult (thank you) and this only makes me want to stand up and support her retroactively… she deserves her flowers. She did nothing wrong ❤️

[@thegumbonetwork1421]

I love the objectivity of your content. Not bashing anyone. Straight facts with personality.

[@melanieshaw691]

You said absolutely everything I feel about this subject in a 34 minute video 💅🏽 And girl please make one about black women and dating 😭

[@phunkyfeelone4855]

I wish you had talked about Millie Jackson who has inspired many early female records. Millie Jackson really worked hard in the industry and challenged society with her writing and songs.

[@IntelexualMedia]

i should have, thank you for putting her in the comment section

[@Harijukuxbri]

Ik a lot of ppl who are academically smart who listen to explicit female rap, I am one of them 💀

[@uriahreed9363]

Same hii 😊

[@Oir07]

Music is so powerful we’ve all been influenced by it. But it starts at home. Kids follow examples of the leadership in their homes.

[@HERstorien]

Girl. I just love you so much. This topic has been on my mind heavy lately and you laid it all out so intelligently🤎

[@thenopasslook]

one of the best channels on youtube

[@araine5404]

you are my fav youtuber by farrr i LOVE seeing you post. So nice to see black women historians

[@Jamerian2010]

Janet's "would you mind" will forever make me do this ☺️☺️☺️ when I listen to it. A very explicit song lol, but I love it.

[@rebirthofaspiritualbeing]

Freaks Come Out by Dru Down and Look of Love pt 1 by Slum Village prolly some of my favorites they both mad catchyyy but you just pmo to a lot of good artists ima have to take a deeper look at so tysm 😇

[@rebirthofaspiritualbeing]

As for older music i love so many blues artists, Big Mama Thornton got this song I'm Gonna Leave You that just be so goodddd 😩

[@QueenDeeTV]

This was well done as usual. I love how the man in the overalls on stage had Kim's back. That Bugs Bunny line is facts. Lil Kim is my day one lmao My mom had to explain to me why I could not dress as her for Halloween as a kid lmao and Megan Thee Stallion is my girl and always will be! Love her and she raps down!!! Those are my two faves.

[@Misssampaguita]

Lex you've done it again! From beginning middle to end I enjoyed the video, there was not a single dull moment & your spontaneous zingers were on point. Also appreciate how neutral you were on this topic. Side note that snippet of Kim at 14:14 is one of my most favorite looks of her.

[@aj2thamaxx742]

Love this video, I really appreciate that you covered the vitriol Lil Kim and Janet dealt with. They were both wrongly “punished” for doing exactly what men in the same industry do. And secondly….parental advisory is for parents to enforce and it’s up to them to monitor what their children view and hear. I wish folks would realize that you need to give your children a comprehensive education on s*x.

[@geoffstockton]

Best KZbin channel. 🏆 I absolutely lose my shit when a new vid comes out. Thank you for everything you do.

[@kiw.9805]

Next month after my wedding I’m signing up for the Patreon. When I say you on it, you on it!

[@IntelexualMedia]

Awesome! Thank you! and congrats

[@kiw.9805]

My partner also said “The women in rap usually discuss consensual sex and the men often times don’t” 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃 I was like bae you shaking the table!

[@LESHAUNWILL]

12:59 Aaaah thanks for the shoutout Boo I never get my damn props 👏🏽👏🏽 Love it

[@user-hc2tu7ul7j]

Love your videos! I wish there was Latina KZbinr doing what you’re doing for latinas too. Especially on how religion affects our sexuality

[@peepeehead2633]

I hope to do this!

[@princessmajesty8676]

What would be the point? Latino is not a race

[@BLOCKBOI3RD]

Yeah tell us how y'all street walk as children in your home country then Blame it on 300 years ago

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@princessmajesty8676😭💀

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

That does mean we’ll have to talk about the N word they LOVE to use and defend 24/7. But I’ve been looking for creators like this but nowhere to be found! Hopefully one day!

[@kelvinhopkins3000]

Intelligent report. One constructive comment I wished you would have explained more is the owners of the record company pushed the raunchy lyrics and not to sing about family, love, and social issues. This is why the song strange fruit was so shocking. I will subscribe. Thx u.

[@quwandathornton]

Lil Kim is right, some kids don’t even understand the lyrics at that age. we should be worried about the pedos in black homes. That’s the issue; not some song most kids won’t listen to the lyrics but the catchy beat. Kids have consciousness and are very intelligent. That’s why you teach them about these things instead of just letting it be.

[@kbr517]

Commenting for the algorithm. Your channel is absolutely one of my favorites on the entire platform. I am grateful to have access to the wonderful content you produce!

[@GearsinMotionGraphics]

I am so glad that you definitely covered all bases towards the African-American community when it comes down to this contagious word….SEX🧠

[@furiousstyles08]

Well done as always. I love how you tie an entire century together and show the futility of the "moral panic" of today. That coming thumbnail for the "Lexual Does the 90s?" It made me smile and chuckle.

[@brycetheoddball]

That Lil Kim homage when you remade her album cover at the end was kinda fire my G.

[@preshizpink4340]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!! Thank you for providing the facts and receipts of the sexual history of black women cause we REALLY NEED IT among the Mysogyny surrounding BW and respectability politics in music. Sexyy Red has been the focus of HATE recently and its Sickening cause she isn't the first to do this! ❤

[@BreeonaNechole]

I grew up singing Donna Summer and dancing to The Mary Jane Girls. Now I looooove Sexyy Red. Hating on them is so whack to me.

[@jackieade6599]

*EXACTLY🤣🥰😇!*

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Periodddd!

[@lolabugge]

It’s so amazing that for only 4 quarters I can get the sources for this incredibly well researched and immensely entertaining video essay! I still remember the first time I ever heard Put It In Your Mouth by Akinyele ft Kia Jeffries. Song with explicit sexual lyrics are some of my favorite!

[@nesm8207]

In addition to the usual excellent research and analysis, you gave us some serious voice acting when reading quotes from the pearl clutching haters in this one! 😂

[@jashanestone]

When you pulled the earlier days of what was called "raunchy" music? I was like, whomp! 🤐 I already learned this years ago and also was a very big fan of the 90's "raunchy" music, as a teen.. 😂😂😂 I was on the fence over today's music but you reminded me of myself. I am and always was into expressing yourself. Sexuallity in art / music is just, that artists expression and, them taking power to their voice as an individual through their artistry. 💪🏾❤ to all.

[@LilLadyAy]

You can hear in her voice that Lucille Bogan was having fun with those songs, it's nice to know things weren't all just doom and gloom back then. I didn't know paramount had those tracks.

[@skydelight]

As a teen in the UK, I will never forget this song and this era. What a time!! 🎉

[@ccjammy5270]

I was hoping you would include Choice. You did not disappoint, I love your content ❤❤❤❤

[@LutherVandals]

My daughter asked the Google home to play cupcake(thinking she was asking it to play a song she heard on an XM radio children's channel) and it started playing some craaaazy shit bro I almost threw the speaker out the window LMAO. She can't use that shit no more. The power is in parenting.

[@tankissed]

I was just binge watching her channel when this popped up !! I feel lucky, I’m always ready for some more lexual !!

[@BantuOtaku]

Purrr, I'm so glad that your tackling this subject Lexi because seeing the Sexxy Redd influnce all Black Women discourse on X(Twitter) was strange tho apart of the never ending debate of respectability politics and ect in our community.

[@nicolesherman8974]

Love to love you baby was controversial to the point where there was fights in the club whenever Donna performed it lmao

[@Intentionaltia]

😂😂😂

[@MikelsReview]

You’re so funny 😭 great editing and story telling now I gotta binge all your videos!

[@ThatCanadianDudeEh]

BW don't control their sexual image, when it comes to the media.

[@hunni2968]

Absolutely love this! I never knew the history. This makes me wonder for the young girls and women who believe subverting away from or catering towards anything resembling male fantasies - which line of thinking for or against STILL centers men what exactly is it that we are afraid of being compared to? In the mind of a man what exactly is the difference between a friend, or family member who happens to be a woman and is held in high esteem and a sexually explicit woman expressing herself as any other man would? I thoroughly appreciated this nuanced approach.

[@jevarbankston2743]

“Who doesn’t like a cream pie?” Took me smoove up outta here 😂😂😂

[@TinyGhosty]

Your videos are always entertaining and educational and that is a triumph.

[@LatriceKelly]

I remember being in 5th or 6th grade when “In my house” by the Mary Jane Girls was hitting. My bestie and I were slated to perform a dance for the talent show and our teacher pulled our coattails and was like uhhh uhh! Not ✨THAT✨ song! 😂😂😂😂 Yes indeed very tame for todays standards!!

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

3:28 Daym dirty blues had some saucy lyrics! Some of the best lyrics and song writing to date! Loved it. Someone should bring back the song and do a modern rendition of it

[@t_ylr]

Honestly i really don't understand where the hate for someone like Sex Red is coming from. If she's not your cup of tea that's fine. I'm not even a fan of her like that tbh. I'm in my 30s i heard Trina and Khia in elementary school 😂. Is she really pushing the envelope more than they did???

[@PrettyZ-qu6ws]

I don’t understand the comparison, they’re all responsible 😂😂😂.

[@t_ylr]

@@PrettyZ-qu6ws response for what tho? What's the crime lol?

[@transsexual_computer_faery]

when women do stuff, we get shat on. simple math, unfortunately

[@0Lu.Lu0]

I do not know any of her material and don’t plan to check for it. Neither do I believe she is or even can be solely and single-handedly responsible for the degradation and demise of the collective positive image of Black Americans. I grew up during the Reign of Lil Kim, Foxy, Trina, Patra,and Janet: Janet was my chosen, dominant “Role Model” and even her I chose to put on time out in 1994 because all HER moaning and heavy breathing was too much for MY SENSIBILITIES AT THE TIME, AS I WAS TAKING BEING A CELIBATE BORN AGAIN BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE SERIOUSLY AT 16 1/2-stopped having sex with and ended the relationship with my 22-year-old “Official” boyfriend and everything (“Official”because my mother knew and met and liked him and he was my first). That was a decision I was able to make on my own because my mom was a liberal but level-headed Leo and I have Aries Moon and Ascendant, so I am very individual-minded. But even then, I knew myself as a sexual being BECAUSE JANET STARTED HEAVY BREATHING AND MOANING WITH CONTROL, AND,…..WAIT FOR IT…..RHYTHM NATION: as a teen I wore out that song “Someday Is Tonight”, which is effectively the sequel to “Let’s Wait Awhile”. I came back to Janet during her “All For You Era” (I was done being Religiously Christian by the end of 2000 plus her fits were bussin’ me upside my head, I wanted those Abs).

[@Jamangel]

!!