The Honey Trap Presents: 'Black Women Spin’ For Women, By Women
'Black Women Spin’ is a cultural experience in LA, highlighting the artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial contributions women bring to the culture! We discuss it here!
By: Prince Hakeem
Women within the hip-hop genre and culture have had both a strong and sad history. Since its inception back in the '70s, hip-hop has been an overwhelmingly male-dominated field, with little to, often, no regard for the women who've helped pioneer and elevate the art form. Historically, the culture and its gatekeepers haven't done a great job portraying women as complex well-rounded artists. It often reduces them to just over-sexualized objects for the commercial male gaze. These dismissive attitudes aren't exclusive to just the MC element in hip-hop. Women are often underestimated within the DJ space as well. Being continuously underpaid, underrepresented, and underrated, women across the hip-hop spectrum still manage to carve out their own space and affirm their identities on their terms.
The sisterhood was on full display during a cannabis and entrepreneurial-friendly night festival back in April. With the covid pandemic having a significant impact on the entire entertainment industry, live events have been especially tough to navigate and pull off. However, that didn't stop New York-born Event Producer DJ J-Honey(@queenxjhoney) from manifesting a memorable cultural experience in LA. Presented through her live event agency, Honey Trap, 'Black Women Spin' highlighted the artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial contributions women bring to the culture. The atmosphere was hype and full of energy at that RAREHOUSE (@rar3house) venue near downtown LA. Comedian Angelica Mackey (@pkmackey) brought the laughs as the MC/host. With the help of fellow creative organizers Keirra Leone (@kierraleone_) and Jodii Watts (@jodiiwatts), the Honey Trap created a gathering which included an all-female DJ setlist, female and trans performers, live art, and female-owned cannabis, skincare, wellness, and clothing vendors. The women getting it done despite confusing covid regulations varying state-to-state was nothing short of amazing.
The concept behind 'Black Women Spin' was simultaneously remarkable and disappointing.
On the one hand, it highlighted the diversity of talent and collectivism amongst women while bringing to awareness the lack of attention, presence, and representation women within the culture deserve. The very reason behind the event is also cause for introspection on how male-focused and exclusive hip-hip, business, and the culture is. Nonetheless, the night and festivities ended up being a success. From the owner to food and drinks, 'Black Women Spin' personified the phrase, "For Women, By Women." Here are some of the vendors and sponsors the Honey Trap featured.
Scents By Angelle - (@scentsbyangelle)
Scents by Angelle is a health and wellness line by local singer and entrepreneur Angelle Talerico. It consists of homemade natural bath salts, body butter, beard oil, and beard balm. There are products and bundles for men and women specifically. One of the selling points of Scents By Angelle is that all of the products are made by hand with natural ingredients. Angelle's motivation behind her skincare line comes from constantly wanting to "put good things for her body on her body." She described going into her mom's cabinet as a child trying different lotions and oils on her skin. This desire for cleanliness and skincare became a passion for her very early. Thanks to the pandemic, she's sharing these home remedies with the world and is already receiving great feedback.
Angel Ray Remedies - (@angelrayremedies)
There was a particular booth that immediately caught my attention entering the venue. Beautiful and different crystals were scattered all over the surrounding table. After taking notice, I soon began speaking with Angel Ray Remedies co-founder Daniella(@danitheaquariusmoon). This business focuses on holistic health and healing through the science of crystals. Dani details the overall benefits crystals to provide for a person's energy and spiritual health. She's getting her doctorate in herbal healing, taking inspiration from her grandmother, who is also a healer. Other products include vegan & organic skincare, pendulums, and candles.
Get Your Sip 2gether - (@getyoursip2gether)
What's a night festival without good drinks? That's where entrepreneur Shermannique(@shermannique_) comes into play with her curated cocktails 'Get Your Sip 2gether'. These beverages were unique in these bright colors and sweet taste. There were various flavors, including cherry, watermelon, peach & mangoes, and lemon. While she wasn't the only alcohol vendor, her product stood out the most. From the catchy logo to the label and packaging, the creativity behind this alcoholic drink made it distinctive from others. It makes sense, given the Los Angeles native's marketing and branding background. To get your sip together, you can place an order at www.getyoursip2gether.com.
420 Honeys - (@420honeysss)
As the cannabis industry grows more in legitimacy, many vigorously point out the galling hypocrisy and lack of representation of women and other minorities. Many have been the targeted victims for the same cannabis use, which is now accepted for its profit margins. That is why the brand 420 Honeys is a great collective effort, celebrating women in the cannabis culture. Consisting of Kushly, Kay, Missy, this vendor express pride in being a female-owned brand. Kushly went into further detail about this fact.
"Something that makes us different is that we're an all-women company. When everyone sees that the weed industry is run by men, there comes the stigma that there should only be male owners. That's what makes us different. We're a women empowerment group that's here to support women."
They have an array of products, including weed, shrooms, pre-rolls, ice cream, cereal bars, and a lot more. Everything is homemade by the women themselves, so their influence will surely leave a lasting experience. Go to their Instagram @420honeysss to place your order for delivery.
Take a look at the DJs and musical acts that provided the vibes and sound for the night.
@djashe @ogsugarbabies @_chaunc @kalithebossss @sowell_official @11.11donron @_ljd4 @moonflowervibes @surfwaveaton
If you're interested in attending one of these live interactive events, you're in luck. The Honey Trap presents the Juneteenth Jam taking place on June 18th. There'll be live performances, a vendor market, a bounce house, and free 420 gifts. Come in your best 90s-2000s attire, and better to go up. Purchase tickets at the @honeyxtrap_ Instagram page.
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Have We Become Complacent With Hip Hop Culture Objectifying Women?
Have we become so complacent with the music we listen to that we just ignore the blatant misogyny of hip hop culture? We discuss it here!
By: Omar Cook
There’s no doubt that hip hop has a major influence on American culture, and it brings people from all cultures and backgrounds together. There’s a major elephant in the room that we seem to ignore when listening to hip hop and it’s the lyrical content. At some point in hip hop history, it became acceptable to objectify women and degrade them in songs and videos and now it’s so regular in music that you almost ignore certain words when you hear it.
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I love hip hop but I can’t help but notice the lyrics to some of our favorite songs when I hear them and I think ok, does no one else hear this? Are we just ignoring this? The craziest thing to me is that women will be ready to pop off if a man calls them a b*tch or hoe but if their favorite rapper says it in a song, they’re bobbing their head, rapping the lyrics right along with him, and of course dancing to it at the party. This doesn’t apply to every person but i’ve seen it so many times I wonder do people just program themselves to be deaf to certain lyrics?
I get it, sex sales. But have we just accepted as a musical community that calling women out of their name or portraying them as sex symbols in music videos is just apart of hip hop culture? It also seems like the more vulgar and disrespectful a rapper is, the more publicity they get. I have to tune certain artists out because at some point, listening to these dudes talk about women in a degrading way becomes unrelatable. I can’t relate.
How many times have you watched a music video with multiple women twerking in the background, as if the message is that it’s just the thing to do to have multiple women? Try balancing multiple women in your life and see just how difficult that is. Try calling a woman out her name in real life and see the reaction you get. You’re asking for problems if you really try to act out some of these lyrics. Most of us can remember waking up early in the morning to watch BET Uncut to watch our favorite video vixens, but not even truly understanding the message being portrayed in the music and video itself. I don’t think that most people even realize the power of music sometimes and that people become subconsciously programmed to think that some of the behaviors that some rappers promote is okay behavior.
>> SEE ALSO: Has America Seen A Shift Since The Death Of George Floyd?
There are only so many mainstream rappers that really get hyped for speaking something positive and motivating. J Cole talked about substance abuse in his latest album KOD and people still aren’t taking the lyrics literally because we’ve seen a couple rappers this year die from drug overdose. The message seems to be more easily consumed when it’s filled with negativity.
Hip hop culture has a problem that it needs to address, and also the people that listen to it because we support it. Maybe i’m tripping. Maybe i’m the crazy one, but I truly believe that it’s time for a new agenda and a new shift. One that promotes love, growth and success. People will talk about what relates to them, whether it’s a personal struggle, overcoming the environment they came from, or whatever, but it doesn’t mean you have to promote a certain lifestyle because you think that’s what’s going to get you sales.
There’s enough negativity surrounding black people in this world, and the last thing we need is our biggest influencers using their platforms to degrade women of color. If black artists truly understood the influence and impact they have, the way we speak about ourselves and to our own people would change.
