I’ve always said I love listening to Charlemagne on “The Breakfast Club” but I would be scared to actually meet him. On the one hand it’s refreshing to listen to someone who is so honest in expressing his thoughts on music and pop culture. Charlemagne has said that Wendy Williams taught him he could either be for the people or for the industry. He chose the former and it shows.
But I would be scared to meet and have a conversation with him because Charlemagne frequently makes disparaging and disrespectful remarks to and about women. He gawks at women when they sit next to him, commenting on their bodies. He crudely and openly talks about sexual practices, even women’s vaginas, while said women are visibly uncomfortable with the conversation or attempt to change the subject. Long story short, he’s consistently disrespectful and rude.
Most of the time, no one calls him on it. People, men and women alike, (because he talks to men about vagina too), have either smiled nervously, remained silent or attempted to change the subject.
But that’s not what happened today. When Master P sat down with “The Breakfast Club” this morning, things took a left turn when Charlemagne tried to insult a Mercedes, a female rapper signed, at one time or another, to No Limit, Master P’s record company.
Here’s how it went down.
Charlemagne: I always wondered, how did you set up promotion for your projects? Because it was a time that No Limit was dropping project every week. It was a No Limit product in stores every week. Except for Mercedes, we never saw that. And I always wanted to see that because she had a fat ass pussy.
Master P: See there bruh, hold up… Don’t talk about Mercedes like that.
Charlemagne: Oh, my bad. I didn’t know. Is she family or something?
Master P: She ain’t family; but still though, with all my people man, you know how I am. But we good, man. You know what I’m saying…you know how we get down.
Charlemagne: But how were you setting it up, promotion wise?
Master P: Naw, let’s go back to this dog. Let’s respect. Because I’m not going to talk about your sister, your mom or nothing. That’s the first thing. I know you do your radio thing and I respect that; but at the same time, Mercedes is a…she a female.
Charlemagne: You right. My bad. But she did look good on that cover though.
Master P: She did look good. That’s your opinion…
An upcoming rapper walks into the room and Master P gets distracted. Then DJ Envy tries to get Master P to answer the original question. Master P obliges and then gets back to the issue of respect.
Master P: But like I said man, it’s about respect, Charlemagne. You know me and you go back.
Charlemagne: Absolutely.
Master P: When we talk about women– I don’t care I ain’t gon’ disrespect no hookers or nothing. Cuz I don’t do that, I’m a man. And I don’t want nobody to disrespect no people that I know. You know what I’m saying.
Charlemagne: Absolutely.
Aaaahhh what a breath of fresh air! With the exception of the word female…this was so perfect. I absolutely love the fact that Master P lets him know that it’s not about Mercedes being related to him, the fact that he knows her means he won’t let anyone disrespect her. And then the response got even better when P said, in fact, he wouldn’t speak about any woman in that way, regardless of what society may say about her worth or moral standards. Standards starts with self and the fact that he is a man, he won’t allow himself to disrespect women. There is only one word that can detail my reaction to this portion of the interview: YAaaaaaassssssss!
And since I grew up in and still go to church, I feel this Holy Ghost dance gif is appropriate.
Women have been degraded and disrespected for far too long in the confines of Hip Hop. But if we’re being completely honest, it’s not just Hip Hop. The medium, as it’s been known to be, is a reflection of the world in which we live, good and bad. It’s society’s fault for making us believe that women are somehow inferior and therefore worthy of this type of treatment and discussion. And if I can take it a step further, it’s not just men who disrespect women. You need work at MadameNoire for only a week to see women calling other women all the types of hoes, bitches and thots in our comment sections.
Misogyny is real and so deep, women have become the torchbearers of it.
I appreciate Master P and his response so much because it shows us how to stand up for the rights of women. (Note, that Master P was very respectful and direct in his approach.) We don’t have to smile politely or laugh it off. And it also shows that all women, no matter what they may do for a living or if they defy your personal, moral code, should be and deserve to be respected as human beings.
Amen.
You can watch the full interview on the next page.
