Hip-Hop Needs Geek Rules

[littlegirltoast]

K-L (kira_lynn) linked me to this post from Washington City Paper's always glorious "The Sexist" blog, "Make Your Dude-Dominated Subculture More Accessible to Women." I think it is because she knows that's exactly what I want to do with my dude-dominated subculture of choice, underground hip-hop. The article is focused on gaming, and other geeky pursuits

Comments

[dzuunmod]

but if we're honest with ourselves I think we can admit that rap is no less geeky once you really care about it and delve into it

I'd posit that pretty much anything is geeky if you really care about it and delve into it.

[littlegirltoast]

That's totally what I mean! That rap is not exempt.

[audrawilliams]

Psyched about this and poised to help!

[littlegirltoast]

Should we buy that domain?

[audrawilliams]

Do it up!

[littlegirltoast]

I don't have a credit card, homie!

[batyatoon]

Interesting. I'm not sure how I would feel about a space advertised as feminist or women-friendly. I kind of have a knee-jerk reaction of "uh, everyplace should be women-friendly, wtf" that makes me not like the idea of said labeling.

Howevs! It is undeniable that there are plenty of non-women-friendly places out there, most of which absolutely do not think of themselves as such, and maybe therefore this isn't a bad idea.

[aliasjack]

While this is all true, the rampant unfriendliness to women in a majority of geek spaces necessitates the creation of those that are explicitly woman-friendly. I know, for me, my renewed interest in comics and most of my knowledge on anti-oppression topics came from being a member (and now moderator!) of one such comm, and the friends I made there.

We've come under fire a lot for our efforts in that direction, but the fact that most comics communities around the internet are so unfriendly to women and minorities was one of the major influences behind that stance. This is why our community even exists, to accommodate those the rest of fandom sees fit to exclude.

[littlegirltoast]

What's the comm, homme?

[aliasjack]

Scans_daily/noscans_daily

[a_clear_job]

i like where you're going with this.

as i think you know, i was mostly a latecomer to rap and hip-hop (especially nerdcore), and i think at least some of my hesitation of embracing it came from my distaste for much of the subject-matter, and how it is expressed.

[that's still a reason why i have trouble listening to jay-z, or even cage, despite my appreciation for their skills. ditto for the likes of immortal technique and mf doom].

the world definitely needs more woman-friendly and made-by-women music, in all genres.

[littlegirltoast]

Abso abso absolutely. I even think of Jay-Z as being relative non-misogynist, but lord knows he's sexist and doesn't have a clean record in either regard. I think he's softened with age, and maybe by building a relationship with B, but still... still.

Immortal Technique is a heartbreaker. Best social conscience of any rapper, maybe ever... except he hates women and fags. For fuck's sake.

[a_clear_job]

Immortal Technique is a heartbreaker. Best social conscience of any rapper, maybe ever... except he hates women and fags.

soooo true. it's like a blindspot. he's not sexist in the same way as rappers that i lump under the category "booty-rappers". but in that way it's almost worse, 'cause it's a tragedy that someone with a seemingly social awareness - and ability to articulate it - could be so bigoted.

[tree_of_jessie]

YES!!