Sex Sells

Lil Wayne…

In the second it took you to read his name, you’ve probably already had five or six images of him smoking weed, rapping, dancing with women, cursing, or drinking. Maybe his tattoos came to mind or his butt because his pants are usually sagging far below his waist line.

DON’T WORRY! You’re not the only one. I typed “Lil Wayne” in to YouTube because I was sure a video disgracing women or abusing drugs would quickly pop up, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised.

I’m not much of a rap listener, but I had heard Lil Wayne’s song “How to Love” and decided to watch the accompanying video.

Go ahead…

I know, you must be thinking the same thing! The video displayed a success story at its finest. A real life experience that could have potentially happened to both you and me depending on a few different decisions made throughout our lives.

Despite the positive image the video shows of a young woman learning how to respect herself in life and love, the video does give glimpses of the female as an object.

Prior to the “successful” life, the woman is portrayed as a beautiful failure. She has been rapped; she strips for money, and she has kids without a husband.  

Let’s face it, her “sexy” rebel side was intriguing to the viewer and although we felt bad for her lifestyle, we continued to watch her dance for money in clothes that barely covered her body. Only after seeing her half-naked did we truly appreciate her reformed lifestyle- one with clothes and school.

Her looks were essential to the video. Everyone wants to be that success story. Beautiful, educated and steady.

I suppose the stripping and lack of clothes could have been avoided, but Sut Jholly’s Dreamworlds said it best, “sex sells.” In this case, Lil Wayne was able to use sexual appeal to his advantage. He still had the naked woman but then explained that the naked woman was wrong- A mixed message at its finest.

I also find it interesting that in nearly every other Lil Wayne video he portrays women as something he expects to be there, such as the following:

This video truely represents the purpose behind Dreamworlds. Besides a few statements Wayne makes about women being "Hoes" etc... the women walking around are completely insignificant. But again, sex sells.

But who cares! Lil Wayne is working the market perfectly. Doing ONE video that shows women matter is a sly way to make all the women out there remember Wayne’s little soft spot.

Even I have a newfound love for him.