OPPapers.com

Reached Back Like A Pimp

Reached Back Like a Pimp and Slapped the Hoe

When four teenagers drive to the movies on a Friday night with the music blaring and “Boyz N the Hood” comes onto the radio, it does not matter whether the young adults in the car are black, white, male or female, when it arrives at the line “reached back like a pimp slapped the hoe” everyone joins in. Why? Because it is catchy, popular, and as ridiculous as the world has become, the song is cool. No one notices that the singer has become abusive because his girlfriend has said something to annoy him. No one realizes at the time that the singer is intoxicated, because it does not matter. The song is fun, the lyrics well known. Countless young Americans memorize the lyrics to this song and many others because of the constant exposure through popular media, wit the average listening to two hours a day (Martino 430). For some, it is simply music, aural enjoyment while involved in other activities. Others wish to emulate the actions they hear about. Dr. Steven Martino, one of Yale’s most acclaimed professors of psychiatry, contends that speeding up sexual behavior is a result of exposure to exploitive and suggestive lyrics. He also explains that leaving questionable musical content unchallenged allows the idea of sex to become distorted (RAND). Regardless, when music becomes incredibly popular, the concepts within the music also become popular. Current popular music idealizes the exploitation of women by demoralizing them, provides justification and acceptance of dysfunctional relationships, and motivates young listeners to partake in dangerous relations and/or situations.
As a disclaimer, not just current music conveys the message of misogyny. The Rolling Stones have been preaching the message since their earliest songs. In a 1965 song “She Said Yeah” Mick Jagger sang “Come on baby I want to make love to you” and “Try a little bit to make my mouth dribble”. Both of these quotes made the message...