For me, Rap songs are a declaration of SELF, especially for Black women, from Queen Latifah, to Megan Thee Stallion. It’s a declaration of presence, saying I’M HERE!!” To Rap about one self with style, speed, grace, and cleverness is also a declaration of WORTH!

I don’t care how much they practice or want it, there is not a single white Rapper that even comes close to an authentic Black Rapper that is firing on all thrusters because the motivation isn’t the same. Can’t be the same. When you’ve been told your whole life that you’re worthless, to stand up and repeatedly declare it is the highest form of rebellion, and the best Rappers understand that.

They can steal and colonize as hard as they want trying to get or have that ineffable something that so attracts them to us but they’ll never have it.