Musical Observation:Lyrical Freedom & Domestic Abuse

Just the other day, I came across the name of an female hip hop artist whom I recalled a short interview revealing her struggles and sudden drift away from the industry. Immediately, I began to think of the other female MC's who in other outlets have voiced her same struggles at one time or another. How hard it must have been for them to fight for their spot on a platform, not often utilized for the positive impact on communities it had been capable of, only to see it whisked away by other men and women with misguided ambitions and dangerous love of money. At this time I'm sure you are wondering what artist are you referring to and what struggles do they have in common? The struggle I answer you is: Domestic Violence.

Although I know for myself that love is clear and everything good, not blind. 
I can't help but think of Female rap artist 'EVE' most successful songs, "Love is Blind" where she tackles the very personal story of how domestic violence reared its ugly head in her life and the life of someone she loved and knew.

It seems that a good handful of female hip hop/rap artist, while being vocal about their rights and dislikes, were living in personal bondage behind their lyrics. Let me be clear, I am not telling you that EVE was in any abusive relationship nor implying so. I am however saying that she represents a handful of female artist who came out with such a strong presence, it's sad that some of her peers or those who preceded her were suffering in silence unknowingly to their fan bases. Whether they were in the middle of long term relationships or made the wrong relationship decisions after their career started, they have not in many cases stated.

Questions of why they did not reach out to each other as peers, where were their families, and how are they now come to mind. Now, I'm not asking where are they now to show an interest in wanting them to come back out with any musical material, NO. I'm asking how they are now as it pertains to the condition of their heart & lives. Coming back out is not even the last thing they should be doing, but the first thing they should not be doing. Many times I think some artist mistakenly take the interest of where they are  now, as a sign of they need to make a come back, which is not so. The former audience of some of the most popular groups just need to know, there are people out here that genuinely have a concern of them the person and their freedom from the past. Yes, there are groups of people who want to see them with families, businesses, making positive impacts in their community and not being stuck on what was and what could have been.



Have you ever watched an awards show in the past years where the female artist category is filled with people making a negative difference in the community, the previous artist that made a positive difference in the lives of others or the lack of a category based on the depletion of artist? Conflicted with whether or not to be thrilled they honored some one former or feeling upset there is no one presently to represent the category well enough. Things that make you go Hmmm ??

Why would that be? Well observantly, being an interview enthusiast, it struck me that reading and listening through random interview of some of my favorite former artist domestic violence played a role in their departure from the industry. Not all, but a good number. Others willingly left to focus on family and the things that added to their lives as opposed to what took away. Can you blame them? No.

Were the women in the industry really that divided and so disconnected with one another that they couldn't befriend a peer and say hey this is what I'm going through and I need some help; given the multiple songs that banded them together, the collaborations,  the parties and the concerts. How did they really feel about the catch phrase "showing love/support"?

I question were these individuals not taken seriously by their men and by their sisters in the industry bec
ause of their lyrics or seemingly inconsistent take on who they are and what they represent? I'm not posing the question to cast shadow or the context of blame towards them, I just really wanted to know if they felt this way and it ever crossed their own minds.

At a time, like now, so many women were still journeying to get to know who they were and self acceptance. To say it had to be rough struggling with being lyrically free and physically bound to the essence of who they were not, would be an understatement.

What do you think of the women in this area of entertainment or any subculture for that matter?

Let us know your thoughts here and how you take the good from their time to inspire others and speak out against abusive relationships. We would love to hear from you!