Popular Culture Review Vol. 5, No. 1, February 1994 | Page 77

Rap Music Resisting Resistance 73 Ido not have the space to discuss the complex messages with regard to women and the trends of bigotry found in the music. I will however note, first, that all rap is neither sexist nor homophobic, although both elements are prevalent including among women rappers, which again I apologize for failing to discuss since a cursory treatment of their signiBcance would be difficult, and, second, that both elements are part of a dominant American discourse in general, whether in subtle forms—^beer ads—or unsubtle—^the bigotry of Heavy Metal group Guns and Roses or "comedians” Sam Kinison and Andrew Dice Clay. The point is not that these aspects are unique, but that they limit the possible opposition to racist elements of a dominant American discourse. For, while rap is trying to oppose the oppression of African-Americans, it accef^s the oppression of other groups.