A lot of the readings have had to do with the decolonization and deconstruction of gender in hip hop, particularly for female artists of color. I would like to start off by saying that I do agree with hip hop being an outlet for decolonization within communities of color. I also agree that the disparity between male and female artists is very much present, with women receiving the shorter end of the stick. This is something that has continuously been challenged by female artists, and will continue to be. With that being said, I have to be honest in saying that I believe that the reading, !Ya Basta Con Latino! The Re-Indigenization and Re-Africanization of Hip Hop by Pancho McFarland and Jared A. Ball was a stretch. Maybe this is because I am an artist myself, but I don’t necessarily feel as though artists are actively writing their music and performing in attempt to Re-Indigenize and Re-Africanize Hip Hop. Rather, I feel as though Re-Indigenization and Re-Africanization is a byproduct of such expression. For example, when an artist writes, I don’t think that they are actively trying to decolonize hip hop. I think they are just expressing themselves, simply, and because their experiences are what they are, ideas of decolonization are secondary and come subconsciously. Another reason I believe this is because in the section titled Re-Indigenization and the Politics of Gender and Nationalism, the reading goes as far to say that male artists conform to colonizer ideologies. I have to disagree. Yes, male artists do have the tendency to fall into anti-feminist rhetoric, but I do not feel as though they are also not challenging colonization subconsciously. This is not something that pertains solely to women. For example, Jay Z, Kanye West, Tupac Shakur, etc, all have pieces that dive into racism in America, and these songs without a doubt challenge such ideas. In addition to this, I would no longer consider misogynist ideologies something that exists outside the community of color. I do not think that when men of color repeat such ideas, that they are receiving this from white men. MISOGYNY IS VERY PRESENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES!!! If anything, at this point in time, it may even be more prevalent in our culture than it is in that of white people due to things like machismo, etc. Yes, women were warriors and held high positions within their matriarchal indigenous societies. Yes, this was something that was stripped due to colonization. But this happened so long ago, that fighting misogynist ideologies is not only a form of decolonization, but a rebellion towards people who also look like us, because these ideologies have existed within our communities for so long that the recent generations likely are not even aware of the history of such ideas. This goes for male AND female artists of color. This is why I don’t think that they’re consciously trying to Re-Indigenize and Re-Africanize hip hop. Plus, I think hip hop in general is already subconsciously Indigenized and Africanized, cut the “Re.” It is, in my eyes, simply poetry and individual expression. Whatever outcome such expression has is a byproduct of this.
