Sunday night, June 28, at the BET Awards 2009, New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne set off a firestorm when he performed "Every Girl" with fellow rappers Drake and Young Money. Many viewers found not only the words offensive, but also the presence of what appeared to be preadolescent girls, tweens, onstage with the men.
The New Orleans Literature Examiner has looked at Lil Wayne and his lyrics before because rap, whether traditional poets like to hear or not, may be classified as poetry. To acknowledge this in no way defends what comes out of any rappers mouth, especially Lil Wayne's. His rap is like that of his peers, often misogynistic and offensively raw. Nevertheless, while more refined listeners and music lovers cringe at the messages and the images of many Hip Hop stars, some scholars of performance art realize that artistic expression, by nature, may sometimes offend. Rap offends daily.
At the website Jezebel, a writer's posted video of Lil Wayne's BET performance with the young girls twirling around him, Drake and Young Money. Following these two paragraphs are the lyrics to "Every Girl," as posted at Jezebel. While the lyrics show the "f" word, the rappers said "love" instead on BET, but other words needed to be censored for a family audience, and the network's "bleep" seemed to be on delay.
As the Jezebel writer indicates, the words to "Every Girl" become doubly disturbing with the inclusion on stage of very young girls that could be young fans or family members. It's unclear how this lapse in judgment made it to the stage. If put into context of Lil Wayne's own sexual experience that some view as sexual molestation at an early age as well as other unusual behavior, astute observers may conclude the rapper is sexually confused. (See "Lil Wayne, Hip Hop, and how life informs art, part 1")
Every Girl
Lyrics/rap by Lil WayneI like a long haired thick red bone
Open up her legs then filet Mignon that pu**y
Ima get in and on that pu**y
If she let me in Ima own that pu**y
Gon' throw it back and bust it open like you posed' to
Girl I got that dope d*ck
Now come here let me dope you
You gon' be a dope fiend
Your friends should call you dopey
Tell em' keep my name out they mouth if they don't know me
Huh
But you can't call me tunecha
I'll f**k the whole group
Baby I'm a groupie
My sex game is stupid
My head is the dumbest
I promise
I should be hooked on phonics
hahaBut anyway I think you're bionic
And I don't think you're beautiful
I think you're beyond it
And I just wanna get behind it
and watch you(back it up and dump it back-
back it up and dump it back)[CHORUS:]
Cause' we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And we like her too
And we like her
And she like us tooI wish I could f**k every girl in the world
I wish I could f**k every girl in the world
I wish I could f**k every girl in the world(partial of Lil Wayne's lyrics as posted at Jezebel)
You may read all the lyrics if you choose at Jezebel. At BlogHer.com, a women's blogging site, Megan Smith has a round-up of complaints from black viewers of the BET Awards show. They are not only angry over Lil Wayne's performance but at overall production of the show that the network promoted as a Tribute to Michael Jackson. Her post links to a list at SoulBounce.com entitled "The Top 10 Reasons Why the BET Awards Made Me Want to Vomit."
Lyrics such as "Every Girl" could make many trained poets or untrained but dedicated poets heads nearly explode, especially those who believe poetry should be if not beautiful words then at least an elevation of human thought. "Every Girl" meets only the minimum requirement of poetry in any form, alliteration and perhaps repetition, and sinks to the lowest of rap. The question on the mind is "Does Lil Wayne think what he does is art or poetry?"
The answer is mixed. When it's convenenient rappers want to have the same respect as other creative artists and poets. When it's inconvenient they want to be called business people.
"Every Girl" should be lamented in the vein of spoken word artist Taalam Acey's lamentation of certain rap artists' depictions of black life and black women in his piece "Market 4 Ni$$as." The problem is that those rappers who are willing to cater to that market appear to lack the social conscience, artistic accountability, and intellectual fortitude to deliver a higher message.
Jay-Z's "Death of the Auto-Tune," which was also performed at the BET Awards 09, is an artistic statement. Lil Wayne's "Every Girl" is the uncreative howl of young men jacking off to the Id, limited talent required.
Photo Credit/Caption: Lil' Waynes performed at BET Awards 2009 (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Realted Links:
- Lil Wayne, Hip Hop as art, part 1
- Lil Wayne, Hip Hop as art, part 2
- Lil Wayne, Hip Hop as art, part 3
- Lil Wayne's ex gets reality show
- Documentary about Lil Wayne, The Carter, went to Sundance Film Festival 09
Comments
This performance just adds to my cry that this man should not be mentioned in the same sentence as the greats of Hip-Hop...
this is so stupid. get over it not everyone will like Lil Wayne's music or his word choices (especially if you're older you might not appreciate it). he SHOULD be mentioned in the same sentence as the greats of Hip-Hop because although you may not think it, people are obviously buying his music or else he wouldn't be as famous as he is today.
and as far as the young women who are lowering themselves everytime they do something slutty or flat out disgusting supposedly because of songs like this, that's their own issue that needs to be dealt with, not Lil Wayne's.
lil wayne did his thang he was being a good father by haven his kids let da kids hav fun yall old a** wud thank ofsome like dat its. young money cash money/mob
Mike is right, he's just letting his kids be kids and have fun & y'all want to look at it in negative ways. Basically because that's what the media does. But anyway, a lot of the stuff on the b.e.t awards were pit together at the last minute, so just deal wtb it!
IF YOU WERE FORM NEW ORLEANS LIKE LIL WAYNE AND I AM FROM YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WERE HE GETTS HIS RAWNESS FORM AND UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THREW WAT WE'VE BEEN THREW DONT JUDGE HIM
AND IN HIS MUSIC HE LETS YOU KNO THAT..THATS WHO HE IS AND IF YOUDONT LIKE IT TURN YOUR RADIO OFF AND IFF YOU DIDNT LIKE HIS PERFORMANCE THERE IS!!! A MUTE BUTTON
It took me a long time to realize the following, but if an adult/male rapper, or anyone else for that matter, is sexually promiscuous/reckless, then he probably doesn't see anything wrong with it. Therefore, he has no reason to shield little girls from it. We only hide things that we acknowledge as wrong. Secrecy = shame. Apparently he has none. Because I was raised as a Judeo-Christian, I unconsciously assumed that everyone accepted that moral code. Performances like the one in question demonstate to me, quite vividly, that I'm wrong. Unfortunately, that display may very well symbolize the next chapter in commercial hip hop - Twisted Rap.
"threw"?
That's sad.
JUDGEMENTAL.... JUDGE NOT.. PEOPLE HATE WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND... KISSES
I winced when I saw and heard Wayne's performance, not because I don't like him, but because of the inappropriateness of the song-choice. I think that this was a collab thing going on that was already chosen, so they kind of had to do that song? His changing the word to "love" and bringing the kids out, perhaps his own personal tribute to Michael.
What was worse, was when Janet came out right after. Even for those who love Lil Wayne, for her, grieving for her brother, to have to come on right after that song, it HAD to make even you feel like it was just a bit inappropriate.
Is it too much to ask that Black men care more about their image than their ability to sell their souls for money? He's somebody's father and singing that mess. But he doesn't care...because "He's gettin PAID"
See we have equated success with being all about "the benjamins" If he knew something about our history in America and the world...he could not
sing that ignorance in good conscience. He would be protecting young Sisters....valueing their virtue. See his people...our poeple ain't taught him the lessons...have not shared the history of our maligned sexuality. He's ignorant and does not know it.
That's the stuff that keeps us inferior...when we don't honor our image.
Many on here that says do not judge is missing the point. Just because you came from the hood does not give any excuse to do what you do. For anybody to justify the those lyrics really shows who they are as a person. To have daughters and to rap that mess is crazy because HE would want to kill a brotha if a guy was after his daughter for just sex. I can care less if they want to rap about the experiences in the hood; however a true artist would know how to phrase their words without watering it down in politically correct grammer. To rap that song on a show that was "suppose" to be a tribute to MJ, was a bad choice. I do not listen to much rap because the artistry has gone down the drain over the last decade. That choice of song just validated why I no longer listen to many rappers anymore. We want to get upset with people about their criticism of the rappers; however the rappers are the ones portraying the negativity. We just need to call a spade a spade, because that is what it is.
Its simple if u don't like it, don't listen to it. I really don't see why everybody on here bashing him, BET already knew he was gonna perform dat song, everybody did... People on here talking bout degrading women, I don't see anybody criticizing pornography or da other stuff white people be putting out there(comedy central for example). The only people dat gotta here about being better role models and pillars of the community is rappers and black athletes. yall acting like wayne brought out nude females or something... Those little kids was just having a good time, aint no need to try and make Wayne n Drake look like molesters... All u wanna be politically correct criticizers need to sit down, nobody give a damn wat u think, it aint gonna change nothing, cause hating has never been relevent.
First, I have to commend Nordette for this post. I have a few thoughts about the comments:
First, DIVA talked about Wayne's performance as being reflective of New Orleans' history for "raw" music. Indeed, L'il Wayne has nothing on Jelly Roll Morton's "Windin' Boy," recorded back in the 1930s. But that kind of material was never performed around minors. In more popular material, the adult content was either implied or stated as a double entendre. For example, I remember hearing Billy Eckstine sing "Jelly, Jelly" when I was a child. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized what he was referring to. Finally, in this age of AIDS, when 50 percent of our children are born outside of marriage, we really need artists to be more responsible in talking about sex. For example, Eckstine sang, "Jelly roll killed my Pappy/And drove my Mama stone blind."
I agree that they probably had a contractual duty to do the song. That's part of the problem: BET chose to put that song on.
yeah it is pretty crazy that those young girls got on stage, but it wasn't necessarily even done with his knowing... you really think he knows every little production detail?
I have to say though, this post is pretty incoherent and you give a pretty lame analysis of whether what lil wayne does is art. You cannot judge an artist by one piece, and you definitely cannot judge a rap artist by his single.
Lil Wayne may not be creative poet but he's an incredibly creative rap artist and what he creates IS art. Why does the subject matter have to be intellectually challenging? What if it is the way he puts together the "unintelligent" subject matter that displays his genius? What if it his method and audacity that make him genius? What if you just dont understand the mixtapes?
From what I've read so far in the comment section we are definitely divided on this issue.
I don't support B.E.T. programming. I did not see the show. But I have read enough to know that this has been cited as one of the most offensive-questionable choices during the production.
One of the things that bothers me as an adult is the lack of generational space. Generational space is allowing children to be children until they develop into the next phase of maturation.
The raw reality of sex is the business of adults. Not young tweens. So if the flow of this particular rap was used with them on the stage-it does not seem right.
Nordette, you know that every generation defends what is questionable to the older generations. It is obvious from some of you commenters that they are not mature enough yet to see what is the concern is about.
I don't know where he should be placed in terms of his greatness-but B.E.T. should be brought to task for their part.
Ayye! I totally agree with terell! Seriously - if you dont like it then by all means d0nt freakin listen t0 it!! Ugh! Nobody put a gun t0 ur head and making u listen t0 it! Porn degrades w0men t0o but like terell said n0b0dy pays that any attention.... i guess cuz m0st 0f the wh0res wh0 in p0rn is white people...people are always tryna find fault in everything black people do n0wadays!!
i l0ve that s0ng! i think abs0lutely n0thing 0f it! Its f0r my enj0yment! I ride d0wn the r0ad BLASTING THAT ish t0o!!
I mean even if yall bitch ab0ut Wayne performing the s0ng...at the end 0f the day its 0ver and d0ne with and the negr0 is RICH!!
but yeahh uhm and BET knew he was g0nna d0 the s0ng s0 0h well! Let them d0 as they please!
get s0me bizzness & mind it!
n0b0dy talks ab0ut that lame ish that be 0n CMT..0r MTV...or VH1 --- f**k em all! I f**ks wid BET because thats a black w0man runnin it and she rich t0o!!
neways!!
0nce again -- if y0u d0nt like d0nt listen t0 it!!
MARVALUS GET 0VER IT! CUZ Y0UNG M0NEY
LIL WAYNE IS 0NE 0F THE GREATEST !!
" you worry about yours, let them worry about theirs, cause i got mine " -WEEZY
To 504Guy: This is not the first time I've written about Lil Wayne and Hip Hop as art, which is why I gave links. I'm not talking about his entire body of work in one post. This is not a class on Lil Wayne or a scholarly journal. I'm talking about one rap piece/song. The performance with the really young girls was inappropriate regardless of the occasion and the "Every Girl" lyrics suck. A 14-year-old horny boy could have written it. If you like it, so be it.
From comments by Megan Smith at BlogHer, here's BET's information because as Kim and Deborah say, they are also culpable and seem to care nothing for the community they supposedly serve. They put the performance on national television on a Sunday night during prime time family viewing hours.
You can send an email to BET here: contactus@bet.com.
Or here are BET's addresses and phone numbers:
BET Networks
1235 W Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20018-1211
202-608-2000
BET Interactive
General Inquiries
1235 W Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20018-1211
202-608-2000 or 212-258-1000
Stop buying into the hype...he makes music that anyone with a pen and a pad could write...that is not creative or talent.
But hey, "He's getting his" right? And putting a few words over some tight beats makes it all right?
His performance was in bad taste; but "He's getting his" so we should just ignore the fact that having those preteen girls on stage with him during that song was distasteful. And it makes no matter whether they were his kids or not...
And you don't know my age, but you can probably guess since I choose to use proper english and speak properly...
You know what? I take back what I said about his talent as an artist. Because I do feel that he is talented...but I don't feel that he is one of THE best, at least not yet. That statement was made out of anger, and I apologize.
Watching him on stage, presenting this song that promotes sleeping with every girl in the world with his young daughter on stage, among other young children, put the thought into my mind that it is not the art that he's doing this for...it is the fame and fortune. There are so many cats in the game that breathe for the art and here he is, on one of the biggest stages, lowering himself because of what?
How do you blame the women who put themselves down to songs like this and don't hold the artists responsible too? That is categorically incorrect...and it begins by allowing preteens to parade around and dance to this type of song like it is a way of life when it really should not be.
IF it's not one thing about us as African Americans doing something Bad it is something that makes us seem unappreciative about our freedom. As a mother I did not allow my daughter to watch the show as soon as they started beeping Jamie,fortunately for me I did not either. Soon as I get to my well paid Job the next morning who is the talk of the town,African Americans and their explicit demeaning sexual behavior. We rank the highest in the AIDS epidemic and BET puts this Fool or Fools on stage to represent us. I have contacted my cable provider to see if I can have all BET channels removed. My God man when we ever learn we are still not respected fully and the channel or show to be watched on the Tribute of a King of Pop, shows this Indigestible crap.I will be hoping investors remove their stock from this company.
omg will yu people shut the heck up please..jeez yall make a frieken big deal out of everything..they were just on stage..wasnt like they were in no clothing and dancing on the guys..they were just on stage having fun..this is why i hate people..overreacting to everything..stop hating and let people live their lives..drake and lil wayne all day baby!!!!
hey brown d..do us all a favor and please shut up ok..your just talkin out your bt and its annoying..
LOOK HERE LET ME TELL YOU LIL WAYNE PREFORMANCE WAS NOT BAD AT ALL I DONT KNOW WHY YALL TRIPPIN CUZ THEY PLAY THE SONG EVERY GIRL ON THE RADIO AND KIDS LISTEN TO THAT EVERYDAY SO WHY DO YALL FIND IT SO OFFENSIVE FOR HIM TO PREFORM AT THE BET AWARDZ SHOW YALL NEED TO GET A LIFE AND STOP HATIN ON MA MAN FOR WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMZ AND IT WILL NOT BE PRETTY
Lil wayne should have not took those young little girls on that stage with him, and why does he want every girl he's a ho ho ho.
lil'wayne i dont think ur stupid even though im 11 i think u a gudd rapper my step daddy have a bunch of ur records ever since u stared rappen and i will luv 2 become ur daughters friend.
Lil lil Wayne needs to grow up that was the only part of the show that I didn't like the cussing had to go he could have pick a classier song and the show was dedicated to Micheal Jackson he really looked low class.
Everyone has there own opinion if you dont like it dont listen its as simple as that, and if you do like the lyrics support it. No one will always agree, apparently they let him performe for a reason, but i agree it should have been more in remeberance of Micheal Jackson! No one should be judging anyone cause thats not your purpose.
Brown Literally shut up no one cares about you hello were not in 1802 no more get with the program!i noe that aids are a serious thing but thats not what he was talking about..its just a song dose not mean he's wants to do whats in his lyrics but get over it its just a song!
yeah brown i agree with /// they are right its just a song what do you exspect reappers these daiis to rap about! i noe you have your own thoughts about the song but he made money for the song i mean MONEY for that song so..
A ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THINK LITTLE WAYNES FAKE KEEP YOUR LAME ASS COMENTS TO YOUR SELVES AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS IN HIS RAPS
I found it really funny how when I read over the comments that all the people saying don't hate Lil Wayne and such have horrible grammar. Everyone else who is against him and agree with the article seem educated. Isn't that telling you something? I personally don't like his music, its pretty uncreative and garbage. I listen to rap, but Lil Wayne is a very simple artist and is not appealing. He is not one of the bests and I doubt he will ever be. He is just something for this generation since this generation has been neglected of good rap music. I'm 16 by the way and part of this generation and I don't like him.
To all you lame people who get all emotional about every damm thing Wezzy the king and if you dont like him stop wasting your useless lives and change the channel and stop talking about music you dont like or understand but i forgot you have nothing better to do. Any comments my mail adress is boysebito@gmail.com
Ahaha so I'm 16, white female. I've been to two lil wayne concerts and he's a performer. I don't listen to country therefore I don't go to country concerts nor watch their award shows on tv. why would you go and watch weezy on tv if you don't like him. whatever he's doing is working for him, so who cares if it's not what you liike?! f'kn stupid man.
WHY
WHY LI WAYNE GOT JAIL
it's his music,his money, and his lyrics. Why is evryone else so concern'd about what he's doing?, are your lives so dull and boring that you have to pick at other peoples, as you haters would descrobe "shortcomings"?...get a life
MANN PEOPLE NEEDA STOP HATIN ON LIL WAYNE!!! HE MAKIN MONEY AND SELLIN MILLIONS OF RECORDS, THER4 ITS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO LIKE HIS MUSIC, AND HIS CHOICE OF WORDS!!
LIL WAYNE IS THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE AND HE DONT CARE WHAT THE HATERS THINK!!!!
oiii lil wayne vc ta bem eu te adoro muito eu tem tudo tetu lil wayne
The lyrics are not good at all, I don't hv any grudge on Lil wayne but wot I'm pointing out is the effect these lyrics have on young children. It teaches young boys to direspect females and view them as sex objects, some gurls even disrespect tru that process. A 16 yr old boy wrote on twitter that bitches are made to lay back and suck dicks and said that if God was here he will agree wiv dt. He is on 16 and he is alreadi a mysogynist, dese rappers are the cause of all this. Hw cn Lil wayne be degradin females and he has a daughter and mother, wot goes around comes around, he shud watch out for his daughter.
what up nigga
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!