I still remember my mom playing Queen Latifah in the car when I was growing up. I liked it but the songs didn't have much meaning to me back then. Listening to it now, I can understand why my mother loved Queen Latifah so much; she's a force to be reckoned with and her music carries a powerful message.
"U.N.I.T.Y." was Queen Latifah's biggest hit and is off her third album Black Reign, released in 1993. In the first verse, she addresses the issue of women being harassed/fondled on the street. She highlights how degrading and disgusting it is, and how she resolved the issue. She goes on to talk about domestic abuse by telling the story of a past abusive relationship. The hook confronts what the chorus resounds, the message that verbal degradation on the street, in relationships, and in hip-hop is not okay. Ladies, you are not a "bitch" or a "ho" and don't let anyone tell you any different!
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| Nicki Minaj: Reversing the status of women in hip-hop, one verse at a time, |
