On August 7, rapper Cardi B released a song named “WAP” or “Wet Ass P***y” featuring female up-and-coming rapper Megan Thee Stallion. When the song first begins, there is a beat with a repeated line played in the background saying, “There’s some whores in this house.” After that, Cardi B begins to rap as Megan Thee Stallion follows behind. Most of the lyrics were references to sexual acts or body parts of females and males. Such as Cardi B saying, “Hop on top, I want to ride” or “Now from the top, make it drop, that’s some wet ass p***y, now get a bucket and a mop, that’s some wet ass p***y.”
As of today, “WAP” is in first place on the streaming music platform Spotify for the top 50 songs streamed in the United States and globally. It currently holds the number two spot on the Billboard charts, but at one point was number one, only to be knocked down by BTS song “Dynamite.” It is also in first place on the ARIA charts based in Australia, as well as in first place on the UK singles charts. “WAP” has been incredibly successful. There is even a dance being created on the app Tik Tok, that people — including celebrities — have danced to. Even U.S Representative of New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, praised Cardi B with a post on her Instagram stories.
The song is now deemed as a feminism anthem with the feminist movement praising Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. It is considered that because the song explores and perpetuates “sexual freedom” that women traditionally lack. Often male rappers or singers publish songs about sexual acts whereas women are always confined to create PG material. Though there was much praise, there was also outrage over the song due to the explicit nature of the lyrics.
Conservative political commentator and second founder of The Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro, criticized the song on his show. He sung the lyrics of the song and went on to question the feminist movement due to the constant sexual references. Shapiro’s mocking of the song actually turned into a remix that people listened to. After being deemed hypocritical and made fun of consistently, he went on to say that the lyrics were incorrect because his wife, a doctor, stated that vaginal lubrication is considered a disorder. That theory has been debunked by multiple people, including gynecologists.
James P. Bradley, a registered Republican running for congress in California, criticized the song. He explained that he came across the song “by accident” and listened to the song fully with disgust. He went on to release a statement saying, “Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion are what happens when children are raised without God and without a strong father figure.” Which is contradictory because both rappers’ fathers were within their lives and Cardi B actually comes from a religious family. Bradley has been called a hypocrite and criticized for supporting President Trump, who has been married three different times and had audio leaked of him saying he “grabs women by the p***y.” Bradley has maintained his position and thoughts on the song without responding to the attacks.
To add on, singer CeeLo Green commented on the song during an interview where he critiques the song’s lyrics. He questioned Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s choice of words because he believes that they are seeking attention instead of spreading true art. After the interview was published and people read Green’s words about the song, he was condemned by the public. His hypocrisy was pointed out by others due to the explicit content within his own music. He also said insensitive comments about sexual assault. He claimed that if a woman is unconscious when they are sexually assaulted then it is not sexual assault. People held him accountable for his words again because he was being a complete hypocrite. He then apologized and said that his words were taken out of context and didn’t mean to offend anyone including Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
Due to all of the criticism, Cardi B posted on her twitter account saying, “Can’t believe conservatives so mad about WAP.” She even exposed that many conservatives and parents wanted the song banned due to the explicit content.
Despite the criticism, “WAP” has been a global sensation that still holds a number one spot.
To me, the song does promote sexual propaganda and is extrememly explicit with profanity and references to sex. Although that is the case, the song is still entertaining, especially the beat that is used in the background. Some parents are offended and would like such a song to be banned in order to protect their children from hearing a song of this magnitude, which I understand. This is the reason that parental control exists and parents make sure their children know right from wrong when a song like “WAP” begins to play. Educate your children on profanity so that if they were to come upon a song like “WAP,” they know to transition to something else. Society can’t blame Cardi B, who has her own daughter, for influencing their children when they should be controlling what their children watch or hear.
Also, this is not to attack conservatives because I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. Just to be clear, if you support someone that has been married multiple times, cheated on his wives, said that he would grab a women by the p***y and has degraded women on multiple occasions, you should definitely not be offended by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion lyrics.