One of the main criticisms of hip-hop music is that its lyrics are often misogynistic, violent, and pro-drugs. In other words, to critics, hip-hop is crass; I myself am a fan of rap music. Living in Boston for all of my life, in areas such as Mattapan and Dorchester, one could say I grew up on it. It was one of the first kinds of music that I truly identified with, that I looked to as a part of my culture. However, there is no denying that critics of rap music, perhaps conservative parents who refuse to condone it in their homes, do have a point. As west coast rapper Game so eloquently states in his song “Wouldn’t Get Far,” featuring Kanye West, “I done been around the world, been around the block. Been around bitches that fucked Biggie and Pac.” Later in that very same verse he mentions how Vida Guerra’s “ass took her to the top.” In case you don’t know her, Vida Guerra is a model that was featured heavily in many rappers’ videos and achieved fame for her beautiful figure. In short, she is what’s known as a Video Vixen, a woman who “acts” in a particular video and is there to add sexiness to the video. Models like Amber Rose (Kanye’s ex) and Rosa Acosta  (rumored fiancée of Soulja Boy) are two of the more famous ones today. Many feminists have denounced rap artists and labeled them as chauvinists for the way in which women are depicted in their music videos. Recently, I was watching a video by Nelly with some of my colleagues at the Mass Media. The video was for the song “Tip Drill” and without any exaggeration I can assure you that it was by far the most offensive and crass music video I have seen in a long time. Without going into graphic detail, picture at least a hundred women, some half-naked, others completely naked, gyrating on men (most of whom are fully clothed) and each other while Nelly raps about how he needs a “Tip Drill.” I looked up what a “tip drill” is on Urban Dictionary and the definition definitely fits the song. I wont sully your eyes with the definition but feel free to look it up for yourself! The point I’m making is this: there’s a lot of rap music which does not portray women as merely objects of sexual desire and isn’t predicated on the artist boasting of his sexual prowess but there’s too much of it that does. I’ll keep listening anyway.