Jay-Z - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Jay-Z has sworn to stop using the word “bitch” in his lyrics now that his daughter Blue Ivy Carter has entered the world.
Z, whose song 99 Problems famously features the lyric “I’ve got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one,” revealed his pledge in poem-form:
Before I got in the game, made a change, and got rich
I didn’t think hard about using the word bitch
I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it
Now with my daughter in this world I curse those that give it
No man will degrade her, or call her names
I’m so focused on your future, the degradation has passed
I wish you wealth, health and insight
Forever young you may pass
Blue Ivy Carter, my angel
It’s unclear whether this means he’ll not incorporate the word into future songs or whether he’ll cut any song with the word from his future sets. I guess time will tell.
While it’s undoubtedly a nice gesture, is it too little too late? As one of the most successful rappers in history, does Z have a responsibility to address the misogynist nature of hip hop in a more direct manner? Or can he simply lead by example? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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