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.