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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you find Cardi B WAP offensive or liberating?

259 replies

Louise000000 · 06/09/2020 20:38

Just that really, I'm undecided. I think it depends on what mood I'm in.
On one hand she's only using language that male rappers have been using for decades and it is liberating that a woman can express herself in an obviously sexual way and why not?
On the other some of the lyrics are absolutely mad
'swipe your nose like a credit card'
'touch that little dangly thing that swings at the back on my throat' 😂

What do you think?

OP posts:
Downunderduchess · 07/09/2020 03:37

It’s filthy but I’m not offended by it.

Catchy chorus though...

ForrestTrump · 07/09/2020 03:52

Choice!!! Poc can support bnp if they want. That's freedom. I wouldn't but who the hell are you to say what's liberating???

Well, surely supporting your oppressors isn't liberating? Confused

IAmFleshIAmBone · 07/09/2020 03:55

If women ever truly want liberation, it's not going to happen by playing right into the hands of the patriarchy. I guess that's the difference between class analysis and individual analysis. Liberal feminists think these actions are a choice, but free choice does not exist in a vacuum.

NotBadConsidering · 07/09/2020 04:13

Of course people can parody black people’s music for comedy value without it being racist. Just like Weird Al Yankovic did with Eat It And Amish Paradise and a few others.

Also, it was notable that when Ben Folds announced he would no longer perform Dr Dre’s Bitches Ain’t Shit because of racism and BLM, he made no apology for being happy to appropriate a black man’s misogyny for 15 years Hmm.

The WAP song is appalling, empowers only Cardi B’s bank account, does nothing to remove the male idea that women are sexual objects, and there is nothing positive about telling women and girls that acting like that will bring them money and success.

This 80s style remix of it is really good though:

jaydiggs.bandcamp.com/track/w-a-p-funk

ForrestTrump · 07/09/2020 04:17

If women ever truly want liberation, it's not going to happen by playing right into the hands of the patriarchy.

I'd agree, but I also think that ending patriarchy and attaining true equality would also leave some women disadvantaged - particularly those who rely on wealthy men or are happy with the traditional set up. Some of these women might not have the ability/skills to forge a highly paid career and would end up in the same situation as many working class or poorly educated men (men can't generally marry out of poverty).

Yunis · 07/09/2020 04:21

Crap song and I don't find anything liberating about singing about asking men to spit in your mouth or "beat it up catch a charge"

Ablackrussian · 07/09/2020 05:24

It's a bit like a POC supporting the BNP to exercise their freedom of choice.

But freedom of choice isn't always about doing things that will benefit you in a positive way. It's the fact that you are given that choice. And while I completely agree that a poc (myself, for example) wouldn't support such racism; it really is up to that individual to decide (not us) whether or not they would find such actions, liberating. Along the lines of, "If you can't beat them, join them" or "..keep your enemies closer", perhaps?

Moonmelodies · 07/09/2020 05:39

What even is an ass-pussy?

LucaFritz · 07/09/2020 05:45

What is a Cardi B WAPConfused

tinybuddha · 07/09/2020 06:03

I think it’s poor taste and attention seeking and I am definitely not prude!!!

LockdownLump · 07/09/2020 06:46

Men might be wanking to it, but she's the one that's laughing all the way to the bank

Along with the male (probably white, but I haven't checked) executives of the record company, who will be making the real money off this song. More than the two - what does that faceless man call them in the video? 'whores in the house', will be.

NTHEN · 07/09/2020 08:04

It's neither for me, it just makes me cringe.

I say that as somebody who does like alot of Cardi B's music.

This one isn't for me.

CardsforKittens · 07/09/2020 08:10

I find the song neither offensive nor liberating. I read some of the comments about it, googled it, listened to it, and swiftly came to the conclusion that I’m not the intended audience - possibly because I’m a middle-aged middle-class white British woman.

What I’d really like to understand is why young Black women find it liberating. It’s so far outside my experience that I know I must be missing something. Maybe something about musical history and cultural context? And possibly words having different connotations in different people’s experiences? I’m off to google!

Laaalaaaa · 07/09/2020 08:12

The only opinion I have on it is that it’s a shit song. I don’t see how some lyrics that could be perceived as foul mouthed could possibly be ‘liberating.’

Kittykat93 · 07/09/2020 08:13

Just looked up the lyrics. Yuk. And I'm no prude but seriously???

Original poster
Louise000000 · 07/09/2020 09:45

@lookatallthosechickens thanks, you learn a new thing every day!!

OP posts:
MistyGreenAndBlue · 07/09/2020 10:23

Regressive, misogynistic, dick pandering bullshit is still regressive, misogynistic, dick pandering bullshit even when it's being belted out by women.

So no. Not liberating.

AndAnotherUsername · 07/09/2020 11:32

This song is about women having violent, unprotected sex for money/cars/rings.

It’s obviously written for the male gaze, what woman wants to hear about another woman’s vagina dripping onto the floor?

There is a line about the woman wearing a wig to allow the man to feel he’s cheating.

She sings she’s ‘looking for a beating... I wanna choke’.

There is no mention of a female climax, but plenty of graphic lyrics about the male cumming.

The sad thing is that some young girls and boys regard rap artists as role models, especially those in areas with no fathers around, in gang areas in America etc. So it’s not just a shit song, it has impact on culture.

Liberating? In the sense that women can say/do whatever they want, yes. But being a whore (to use the words of the song) is not going to get you a happy and fulfilling relationship or family which is what most women (and men) want.

Elsewyre · 07/09/2020 11:38

"On one hand she's only using language that male rappers have been using for decades and it is liberating that a woman can express herself in an obviously sexual way and why not?"

Was anyone ever actually stopping them in the last few decades?

Hingeandbracket · 07/09/2020 11:44

offensive

MsEllany · 07/09/2020 12:30

I find it offensive that the backbeat is a man singing ‘there’s some whores in this house’ but the overall message is apparently feminist and empowering Hmm

I’ll put this image here.

To ask if you find Cardi B WAP offensive or liberating?
LolaSmiles · 07/09/2020 12:39

MsEllany
That's a great image!

I feel the same way on threads where people think it's totally liberating and empowering for pre teen girls to be dressed like they're 21year olds on the pull for a night out because it's all about teaching them to be proud of their bodies and nobody should bat an eye lid at children being sexualised because if it bothers you then you're a prude who has issues.
It's a sad state of affairs when having boundaries and centring women/girls is considered to be prudish.

AryaStarkWolf · 07/09/2020 12:47

Neither

OneForMeToo · 07/09/2020 12:55

I think it’s nothing special. It’s literally a song about getting paid to let a man do whatever to your body.

None of it’s about her getting hers and leaving him hanging or anything just getting cars whilst riding this dick.

Isn’t she the one that used to drug men whilst she was going to sleep with them and then rob them? Or am I thinking of another.

sugar989 · 07/09/2020 14:19

@lookatallthosechickens
Long time reader, however this is the first time I've felt the need to make an account to post. I'll be upfront and say I am white, therefore am not trying to suggest anyone's view on racism is incorrect or invalid. However, I'd like to add some context to Biffy Clyro's cover which I haven't seen mentioned here. I am quite a big fan of Biffy Clyro so believe I can offer some wider understanding, as opposed to the initial response of 'white men taking the piss out of black women'.

As a band they tend to be quite light-hearted in interviews and performances. They also are fairly known for covering songs, both in a regular cover format and in a more jokey way. In fact, quite a number of modern rock bands, particularly those leaning on the heavy side, are known to cover pop songs in a much heavier sound. This has produced some very funny, and also great, heavy metal versions of Love Story by Taylor Swift and Hot 'n' Cold by Katy Perry. WAP's lyrics are obviously provocative and out-there and makes it an obvious candidate for this form of cover.

As I initially stated, all views are valid on this topic, and of course the experiences of black people are far more valid than mine. However, I think the cover was much more a poor choice of song without full consideration of the potential backlash it has got. I can't imagine Biffy Clyro would have done it out of any reason other than a silly sounding cover, changing some provocative lyrics into jokes about themselves. Anyway, that's just my opinion and context of it.