“B-tch Bad” is a brilliant dissection of the problems associated with the way women are portrayed in rap. First we see a boy watching his mother refer to herself as a bad b-tch, shaping his ideas on what the word means. The second verse has a young girl identifying herself with the women portrayed in rap videos. In a Shakespearean turn, the two eventually meet, but their ideas of self-worth, ideologies and social interactions have been influenced by the brainwashing unsupervised listening provides, leading to a dysfunctional relationship. And we’re left to assume their children will be raised the same way.
“B-tch Bad” is the song that should make us all question why we tolerate and sing along to songs with “b-tch” all throughout.
“B-tch Bad” doesn’t just point the finger and say that we’re killing ourselves by insulting women. It strategically and intellectually breaks down exactly why the word is problematic. The song is a rare track that could double as a college thesis.
The video adds more layers, utilizing blackface that calls back to Spike Lee’s Bamboozled to explain just how much psychological damage we’re doing to ourselves. Poignant, blunt and unapologetic, “B-tch Bad” is the song that should make us all question why we tolerate and allow ourselves to sing along to songs with “b-tch” all throughout.
Instead, we’re not paying attention.
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