OT: Jay Z buried the "B" word

Do you think he can make a difference? Do you think having a little girl is enough to change a man into a more respectful person when it comes to women?

Jay-Z's New Stance Welcome, But Long Overdue
Date: Monday, January 23, 2012, 6:25 am
By: Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com
7 It would have been wonderful if Jay-Z (above) had come to his realization much earlier, opines Deborah Mathis. (AP)
When my daughter learned that the baby she is carrying is a girl, I told her husband goodbye.

“Been nice knowing you," I mocked. “Because you’re a goner now. Over. Done."

I said the same thing to my brother, years ago, when he and his wife had a girl to bookend the boys.

And to another brother a long time ago for the same reason.

Boys may swell their dads’ chests by mere dint of their maleness and the promise of the family name surviving at least another generation. But a little girl can still a man’s heart like nothing else – owning it, lock, stock and barrel.

So, it is understandable that rap mogul Jay-Z is somewhat out of his mind over the birth of Blue Ivy, the baby girl born to him and his wife, Beyonce, in early January. The infant was still wet behind the ears when her proud papa memorialized her in a new track, titled “Glory."

"The most amazing feeling I feel, words can’t describe what I’m feeling for real/Baby, I paint the sky blue, my greatest creation was you," goes the song/rap/spit track/whatever.

But the socially significant tribute to the child's arrival is the promise embodied in a poem inspired by her birth.

"Before I got in the game, made a change and got rich/I didn't think hard about using the word *****" Jay-Z wrote. "I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it/ Now with my daughter in this world, I curse those that give it."

Further, he vows, "No man will degrade her or call her name/ I'm so focused on your future, the degradation has passed."

Of course, it would have been wonderful if Jay-Z, who is no spring rooster, had come to the realization much earlier – at least when he married his beautiful wife, who wouldn’t have deserved the dishonor either. Had it been my husband, I would have insisted on it, especially when I present myself as a standard-bearer for strong women.

But, then, I’m of a different age and time – not only old school, but, compared to Mr. and Mrs. Carter, old, period. One hopes that certain understandings would override generational gaps, but apparently not this one.

So, better late than never. I’m happy to hear that one of the most influential men in the music industry has sworn off a word that has been wrongly, hurtfully and widely used as a synonym for “girl," “woman" or “female."  Indeed, it has such currency in some circles, that women and girls have fondly embraced it as a term of endearment – a sadly familiar capitulation, as with the n-word, among others. Imitating the wrongdoer and the oppressor may be flattery to him, but it is a self-inflicted wound to the mimic, no matter how cheerfully she says it.

Besides, I have yet to hear it trip tenderly off the lips in a lyric. The context is usually angry, vengeful, exploitative and degrading.  To use it light-heartedly only normalizes a word that, too many times, is used maliciously.

Cheers to Jay-Z for his new daughter and for his awakening.

Now, if he really wants to give Blue Ivy a lasting gift, he will insist that his artists abandon the reference too. That could go a long way toward ridding the culture of this ugly scar.

And maybe by the time Blue Ivy is old enough to tap into iTunes, the degradation will really have passed.

Hey I think that Jay and alot of hip hop artist Rap, and write lyrics that disrespect women, because it sells! Honestly and I know I am one who loves hip hop music, and I buy, listen, and blast Jay Z , Rick Ross, Ludacris, Biggie, Tupac, and I can go on and on. I don't take what they say personally, I know what I am as a women, and I know how God created me! I just love the music, not all hip hop music, but some of it I do! Jay Z probably was always a kind hearted person, and maybe him having a daughter now will probably change what he says in his Lyrics, Should he have been doing this all along----- ummmmmm Yeah, maybe so, will it make me look at him differently------ ummmmm nope, because I love JAY , and I love his music! Some men having a baby girl does soften them a bit! My husband is a true sucker for our daughter lol! So I am very sure that the cute lil baby stole his heart!

Hey Donna,

I just got some info that this might be a rumor...not real:

Jay-Z Says Rumored Blue Ivy Carter Poem Is a Fake

http://www.bet.com/news/music/2012/01/19/jay-z-says-rumored-blue-ivy-carter-poem-is-a-fake.html

At any rate, I think for me its the rhythm and beats more than the lyrics that make me like certain music. I really love the beats of most rap and hip hop BUT the lyrics throw me off. Jay Z could be singing Mary Had A Little Lamb to some of his beats AND I would still love it. Yet...all the B and N Bombs make me discouraged. These words should not be terms of endearment for us.

I think that these artists can make a difference in our community if they would just make things a little more positive in their songs while addressing the realities of our world. This of course would involve taking a risk.

Many people can attest to the fact that just because you were raised in a certain environment does not mean that you have to give up and think of yourself as worthless....b*thes, ho*s and the like.

I really get thrown off by the fact that women have to always be naked and shaking their booties in the videos to sell the music. The imagination is a powerful thing and I know that once someone starts a trend...it might take off. I don'****ch much TV but I recall...the soaps having a lot of sex appeal without showing much t*ts and a***. The imagination does the work.
 
BUT then you have the hard core factions that will never let rap and hip hop turn "soft". Like having dignity and respect for oneself and ones women and community makes a person "soft. 

He can change but he is no longer the current generation of artist. As he gets further removed from the under 25 set that drive music sales he looses influence. Lets hope he influences the future "JayZ 's" to do better.

Youth respond better to the young. If he can persuade the next youthful music moguls to do better then he will make a difference. Without the next generation onboard he may be seen as just another older guy who grew up andd fell out of touch.

Oh....Lawd....there goes my hope What you say is true. There have been others that simply grow up....and become producers....who then have the younger folks do their dirty work to make the money. ~sigh~