oh, lil wayne.

I will be the first to admit that, despite his controversial and often derogatory lyrics, I have always been a fan of rapper Lil’ Wayne. I love hip-hop and rap music, and I have always admired some of the creative rhymes, rhythms, and beats Lil’ Wayne brings to a track. But, I saw a video today that made me absolutely sick to my stomach.

I don’t even really want to link to it because it’s so outrageous (and full of vulgar language, obviously). So, I’ll just describe it and if you really want to watch it, you can choose to do so. Basically, in the video, Lil’ Wayne is lounging with his posse and talking to who I assume is a new young rapper, Twist. Lil’ Wayne starts in on Twist, basically mocking him for the fact that he hasn’t been having sex… because apparently, 15-years-old is way past the acceptable age at which Twist was supposed to start having sex. As Wayne claims he started having sex at age 11 and was already a father by the age of 15, he continues to claim that Twist should be having sex not just because he’s a male, or because he’s already fifteen, but because he’s a member of Young Money, Wayne’s record label. Then, Wayne goes on to say that he was raped at the age of 11, when his own bosses at the time told a woman to perform oral sex on him (basically as a rite of passage), and he “loved it.” He says that, after that day, he was a new man. After that day, he was Lil’ Wayne.

Ummmm…. I can’t even begin to describe how revolting I find this video.

First of all, Lil’ Wayne basically says that Twist better be having sex, or else his reputation as a rapper and a member of Young Money will be seriously called into question. This video serves as a perfect counterargument for anyone who wants to claim that the idea of rape and sex as being linked to manhood is exclusive to African or poor countries; obviously, this ideology has made its way into American society–or it has always been there, operating under the surface. Or, worse yet, maybe we just don’t recognize it when we see it. Well, we’re seeing it now, in this video for example. Lil’ Wayne actually says that, after his experience, he was a man–he became Lil’ Wayne.

Second, I worry for young rapper Twist, who is sitting in this room hearing about how he should be having sex, and should have apparently started up to four years ago! Imagine how he will feel now, knowing he is being mocked and judged for not having sex… and, if he lets the pressure get to him, he may become sexually active for the wrong reasons. And, heaven forbid he feels so compelled to satisfy his bosses’ wishes that he actually forces a young woman into a sexual situation. Not to mention, Wayne even comments that he’s going to “do [Twist] like Baby did [him]“… It is not acceptable that Twist’s bosses and idols would put him that type of position.

Third, Lil’ Wayne talking about his rape experience as something he “loved” is incredibly disturbing. Incidents and videos like this one trivialize rape, making it seem like a joke. Obviously, rape is a different issue for men than it is for women in some cases, but it should not be made a mockery of. For so many men and women, rape is real, terrifying, and a struggle each and every day.

Ugh, Lil’ Wayne. I don’t know if I can listen to another Wayne track with the same enjoyment ever again.