Women in Rap Songs: A Difference between Male and Female Voices

Abstract

Hip-hop has become a male-dominated industry, and it has reached all over the world, including the Philippines. This study analyzed two Original Pilipino Music (OPM) rap songs: Neneng B by Nik Makino feat. Raf Davis, and Pantsu by Zae. The two songs were examined to see how women are represented and how women's empowerment is promoted. Addressing the objectives, this study used a qualitative design that involved stylistics and text analysis. Using the Feminist Theory and applying Sara Mills' Feminist Text analysis model, the lyrics were examined in a word, phrase/sentence, and discourse level. This research revealed that a female artist's song promotes woman empowerment while the song written by male artists has more objectification tendencies.  This study further implicates the role and position of women in modern-day society with music.