Sexyy Red’s superstar status grew along with much criticism of her raunchy content and presentation, which unfortunately has never been an uncommon reaction to femcees. One of the most legendary rappers of all time, MC Lyte, recently reflected on her raunchy nature in an interview with The neighborhood conversation at BET‘s Media House ahead of the awards ceremony this Sunday (June 30). It’s important to note, however, that her comments about the St. Louis MC aren’t really trying to answer the question of whether or not this should be an approach women in hip-hop should continue to take. Rather, she’s denouncing double standards and a lack of historical context and knowledge that leads to unjustified vilification.
“Nothing we’re seeing is really new,” began MC Lyte’s remarks to Sexyy Red. “And you know, we all saw the launch of ‘My Neck, My Back.’ Trina, Kim, Foxy… You know, we’ve been through that. So nothing surprises us, I think. As an artist, as a creator, everyone is always pushing the boundaries and the limits. But she also didn’t come out of a planet. She came out of a place where that’s how you talk to each other, that’s how you communicate. And that’s definitely art imitating life. I think it’s important for people to know that to me, she’s herself. When you’re yourself, how can you argue with that?”
MC Lytes thoughts on Sexyy Red
Of course, we know that MC Lyte herself is not immune to offensive and controversial content. In fact, her comments about age differences back then would probably draw a lot more criticism today than anything Sexyy Red does in particular. But context is everything and time heals all – well, most wounds. Who knows how people would have reacted to “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad)” in 1991?
Meanwhile, MC Lyte also defended other rappers like LL Cool J and even President Joe Biden when it came to their public perception. When Biden called LL “boy,” it sparked a debate about the connotations of the word. Like many other people online, Lyte didn’t think it was that bad, opting instead for empathy and forgiveness. We’ll see how long this Sexyy Red takes in comparison.
About the author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a music and pop culture news writer for HotNewHipHop. He started as a weekend writer in 2022 and has developed a deep knowledge of hip hop news and releases since joining the team full-time. Whether it’s regular reporting or occasional interviews and album reviews, he continues to seek out the most relevant news for his audience and find the best new releases in the genre. What excites him most is finding interesting pop culture stories, as well as a deeper passion for the art form of hip hop and its contemporary productions. In particular, Gabriel enjoys the fringes of rap music: the experimental, boundary-pushing and raw alternatives to the mainstream sound. A proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he also stays up to date on the archipelago’s local scene and its greatest musical exponents in reggaetón, salsa, indie and beyond. Before working at HotNewHipHop, Gabriel produced several short documentaries, artist interviews, venue spotlights, and audio podcasts on various genres and music greats. Hardcore punk and go-go music informed much of his coverage during his time at George Washington University in DC. His favorite hip hop artists working today are Tyler, The Creator, Boldy James, JPEGMAFIA, and Earl Sweatshirt.
