As 2020 has continuously proven itself to be a tumultuous year riddled with catastrophe, it has also taken a positive turn in proving itself to be the year of Black, female rappers, with Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s new single “WAP” being an amalgamation of a year’s worth of Black, female artists at the forefront of the music scene. 

On August 7th, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion released their single “WAP” on all music platforms, followed by a music video that has now garnered over 88 million views (and counting). Apart from the song being an obvious hit and potentially the song of the summer, its cultural implications go beyond billboard numbers. 

The song is an outright, divine, and decadent celebration of female sexuality. It gives the microphone to not just women, but Black women, to express their wants, needs, and desires, that are too often overshadowed and overlooked by society. The lyrics are a reclamation over the female body as one that is ours to enjoy and do whatever we see fit with it. When Megan Thee Stallion raps “when I ride the dick, I’ma spell my name,” she takes complete ownership of her body and sexuality in just nine words (I personally lost my mind to this lyric.)

The song’s flamboyant liberation and empowerment of female sexuality has not gone unnoticed, with it being met with both huge praise and critique. It is important to note however, that the criticism being thrown towards the song is a direct result of patriarchal ideals that work to subordinate women and their sexual freedom. By releasing “WAP,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are challenging these very ideals, which in my opinion, is something we should be amplifying not diminishing. 

From Doja Cat’s “Say So,” to City Girl’s “Act Up,” to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” Black, female artists have dominated the charts over the past year, and rightfully so. It is no exaggeration to claim that they are finally at the forefront of the music scene and are the official trendsetters, whether it be through their music videos, lyrics, or style. The issue remains however, that dominant groups within society often overlook this feat, and fail to acknowledge and credit the influence Black women have on pop culture. As Black artists continue to prove time and time again that they can no longer be ignored, hopefully this reality will be a matter of the past.