“WAP”: Women are Power

 Megan Pete, also known as Megan Thee Stallion, was listed on Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020 and featured on the cover of their Sept. 22 issue. Stallion was nominated for the Black Entertainment Television Best Female Hip-Hop Artist Award after releasing her popular song, “WAP”, along with “Hot Girl Summer” and “Savage”. These songs grew prominently in pop culture, as shown by her 37 million monthly Spotify listeners. Belcalis Almánzar, also known as rapper Cardi B, collaborated with Stallion to produce “WAP”. “WAP” was the first female rap collaboration to become the most streamed song on the music platform, Spotify. 

Despite the song’s recent notoriety, it has been met with controversy due to the music video’s provocative visuals and the explicit lyrics. These elements have been disapproved of by older generations, as these artists have mainly adolescents as their audience. Parents are concerned about their children emulating the artists’ provocative behavior. Talk show host and conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro described the song as “vulgar” and “disgusting” in response to the normalizing of feminine sexual expression. Such criticism shows the double standards within the music industry from older generations, as male rappers have sexually expressed themselves openly for years. In contrast, Generation Z (Gen Z), which consists of ages eight to 23, seems to have fully embraced these songs.

“[“WAP”] encourages sex positivity and female empowerment since women are sometimes disrespected by being told to act modestly by men, whereas it is acceptable for men to [act openly provocative],” sophomore Ema Kimoto said. “[It is] 2020, and sex should be destigmatized for all.” 

“WAP” highlights divisions in what generations consider acceptable. These new songs will inevitably be met with backlash from those who are not accustomed to their explicitness. Despite the backlash, “WAP” shows that Gen Z is readily embracing the messages these artists are conveying.