Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP: It’s basically Porn.

The hit song ‘WAP’ is controversial as it threatens the natural order of music. The norm of the music industry is male artists selling record that are enveloped in female privates, sex and dominating women. A famous example is The Weeknds ‘or nah’ featuring Wiz Khalifa and Ty dollar $ign. Its lyrics sing: ‘can you lick the tip then throat the dick or nah? Can you let me stretch that pussy out or nah?’ and this is just a couple lines of this sexually driven explicit song. There’s no difference to the work created by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, yet WAP is received poorly.

WAP’s lyrics are straight to the point, an explicit command of what women desire during intercourse. These women dominate with their words, singing of what they need to be satisfied sexually with force and assertion. I can see why this song rubs people the wrong way. Usually, women sing of sex with demure and metaphorical language, never speaking frankly what they want from men, merely singing in riddles.  Take Beyoncé’s ‘rocket’, she sings ‘and rock right up to the side of my mountain. Climb until you reach my peak baby, peak babe, peak. And reach right into the bottom of my fountain.’ Her words are creative and elusive unlike the brazen ‘WAP’ which announces, ‘there’s some whores in this house.’ This probably does not sit right with most people as women speaking of sex is still seen (consciously or subconsciously) as obscene and unladylike. Beyoncé’s lyrics, as well, are more suggestive and questioning. She asks ‘If you like you can touch me baby. Do you? Do you wanna touch me baby, ooh?’ Her words are unsure, putting the ball entirely in the man’s court. This suggests the man oversees her body and pleasure, unlike WAP which layout these women’s preferences, not only during intercourse but in male stature. Scandalous!

 There’s lots of argument on whether this is a feminist masterpiece or just porn. Russel Brand criticises the song and music video for celebrating women and their sexuality through the male gaze, basically: ‘capital objectification.’ The beauty of feminism is its diversity and its ability to uplift women by reclamation. Brand sees the song as no different to male artist objectification of women; however, he looks at it through the male gaze. I see powerful women who reclaim the word ‘whore’ (which some men are so eager to throw out to women who are open with sex) and making it a compliment. To Cardi B and Megan, a whore is a woman who speaks up on what she wants and how she wants it: ‘ I need a king cobra With a hook in it, hope it lean over’. She knows sex is for the pleasure of both parties. She is open and vocal with sex and sexuality. She’s not afraid to dominate in bed.

 Regarding WAP’s music video, if you think that’s explicit, you should see the video of ‘Freaky’ by Swarmz or ‘Famous’ by Kanye West. WAP’s video does not show women being objectified, just women dancing and twerking (as we ladies love to do while chilling with each other). Some might call this double standard, but its merely breaking away from the boundary’s men (and women) put on womanhood concerning dressing, dancing, etiquette, jobs and music (to name a few).

Ultimately, WAP shows women as a powerful, dominating figure who know how to get what they want, when they want it. No wonder, it threatens men.

Key quote: From the beautiful words of WAP, ‘There’s some whores in this house’.