Misogynist Doggy Dogg

This past weekend I was rekindled with my Pandora stations in a way I never would've expected. It'd been a while since I'd even bothered with the site and I was beginning to find myself desperately bored with my loyal, yet predictable music stations. So with a little help from my best friend, I decided to give the "90's hip hop" station a shot. I was surprised at how much I was enjoying the music -- grooving and nodding my head with each song that came on.

That is, until a particular song with a very shocking set of lyrics caught my attention.

Some of you may have heard this track before, and many others probably wish they never had. It's called Xxplosive by Dr. Dre and due to the graphic nature of such lyrics, I'll just show you part of a verse here:

Backhanded, pimpslapped and left stranded
Just pop ya collar, pimp convention hoes for a dollar


Most of the song goes on like this, with heavy usage of the word "bitch" as well as a slew of other unsettling words. After noting this song, I made it a point to play closer to the lyrics in the music I was listening to, instead of just letting it zoom past me.

Then I ran into another "work of art"

To think that I actually like Snoop Dogg now makes me a little embarrassed. As before, I was finding the song enjoyable, until I really paid attention to his lyrics.

So I'd advise you not to trust that hoe
Silly of me to fall in love with a bitch

Pass it to the homie, now you hit it
Cause she ain't nuthin but a bitch to me
And y'all know, that bitches ain't shit to me

The common thread in both these songs is the highly profane and misogynistic language coloring its verses. What I find even more appalling is how widely praised both these rappers are: for being innovative, creative and inspiring.

 So I challenged myself and I challenge others as well to really think about the lyrics in the music you so fondly listen to.

I wonder. What musicians do we currently find vocalizing similar beliefs as the "gentlemen" I've described earlier? How do you think women feel about this kind of music? Can we go so far as to say that women may actually enjoy this kind of music and not think much of the lyrics?