My honest feelings about the song "Bongos" by Cardi B and Meg... well, they align with Aretha Franklin's "beautiful gowns... or whatever" statement. The video showcases vibrant colors and top-notch production quality, but the content disappoints—it's trash. Why is it that we rarely witness substantial budgets supporting more modest artists? And please, don't try to convince me that it's because music only sells when it's sexualized. That's a fallacy, and we should refrain from allowing these individuals to delude us. The music charts and "streams" are simply numbers on screens—a digital facade. Take that information as you will, but don't be too gullible. Just because a song receives a plaque or accumulates 100 million YouTube views doesn't equate to it being a genuine hit or widely appreciated. It merely signifies that among the 8 billion people on this planet, a few million may have watched it, including myself, for various reasons—perhaps for reviews, the shock factor, genuine fan interest, and more. It doesn't automatically make the music GOOD. Let's not permit ourselves to be brainwashed by numbers, followers, and awards. The truth is, this music is subpar at best.
So, I ask once more:
Why is it so rare to witness these substantial budgets supporting more talented, modest, feminine, and classy black female artists? And please, let's skip mentioning SZA's half-naked display in her latest video, "Snooze." I'll refrain from commenting on that. Talented woman, but why the constant exposure?
Perhaps we can continue to attribute this to the male gaze, as if men actively scour the internet to watch Cardi B twerk on Meg Thee Stallion or SZA's explicit displays—CAP #2. If anyone seeks explicit content, they should visit a porn site. I shouldn't let others convince us that this is what men truly desire to see because, in reality, it isn't. If anything, real men are just as tired of being bombarded with unsolicited explicit material on their timelines as we are. I mean, yes, they are men who appreciate women's bodies, but when it becomes an overwhelming digital suffocation for all of us... come on, let's be realistic.
The need for separation is urgent. We're currently in a full-fledged battle between "hoe culture" and regular women. Unfortunately, it's the former that garners the full attention and support of paid media outlets like Billboard, Variety, and Rolling Stone, making them the focal point of all things related to black women. However, we must take a stand against this trend. We can no longer support it.
Can we create our own spaces and block those who don't meet our standards? There should be a standard defined by class and genuine femininity.
We're making a strong statement here: music like "Bongos," which seems to drop endlessly week after week, might be catchy summer tunes, but it's the vulgarity that's troubling. How much explicit content can we endure before it becomes physically nauseating to watch? I'm dead serious, ya'll. Black entertainment shouldn't be limited to black relationship podcasts, female rap, and sporadic spirituality. I'm yearning for something different. It's time to distance ourselves from this and acknowledge that it's okay to do so, all while maintaining a vocal approach.
You have two choices: either stand for dignity and class, seeking to preserve the true essence of femininity and womanhood, setting healthy examples for younger women and the generations following us, all while upholding self-respect, or voluntarily surrender to the shallow allure of "twerk that ass" music, with its colorful wig-wearing porn power-rangers. The message is clear. Let your voice be heard, both in the present and on these digital platforms—it's essential to reintroduce femininity into the mainstream. Disregard the opinions of others regarding our choice of promotion. We can change the narrative. The separation begins now. It's time to choose a side.