Many of the Bay Area’s beloved ’90s and 2000s hip-hop anthems — including Mac Dre’s “Feelin’ Myself,” Dru Down’s “Pimp of the Year” and D-Lo’s “No Hoe” — contain casual references to violence against and exploitation of women. Considering that the Bay Area is an international hub for sex trafficking, this art reflects a dangerous reality.

📖 Chapters:
00:00-8:40 Misogynoir + capitalism = pimp culture
8:40-18:39 Our experiences as young women in hip-hop
18:39-23:53 How pimp culture impacts dating
23:53-28:36 Pimp culture's roots in colonialism
28:36-41:44 Understanding privilege
41:44-46:53 The war for respect

More about What’s Pimpin’?, KQED’s new vodcast:
Women rappers and activists Maddy Clifford (a.k.a. @MADlines), Coco Peila (@CocoPeila) and RyanNicole (@MzRyanNicole) — known together as Still I Rise — are taking back the mic. Across three episodes, the hosts facilitate candid discussions about misogynoir and the disproportionate rates of violence Black women face, and examine how systemic racism and wealth inequality breed desperate conditions where pimp culture thrives. They also get deep, drawing from their personal experiences of moving through an Oakland rap scene that at times espouses both misogynistic and revolutionary ideals.