Move over, babynames.com. We have a newly minted name to add to the already long list of possible first names in the English language: “Thotiana,” popularized by rapper Blueface’s hit song “Thotiana.”
Blueface, real name Johnathan Michael Porter, showcases his signature off-beat style in “Thotiana,” which was released on Jan. 29. In February, the song reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs Chart, eventually climbing to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March.
But beyond memes humoring Blueface’s unconventional dancing, flow and signature phrases, including “Yea aight” and the titular lyric “Bust down Thotiana,” critics of the song pointed out the song’s shallowness — and especially opposed its possibly misogynistic lyrics and objectification of women.
“Thotiana,” says the Horrible Music and Songs Wiki, is considered a “horrible song” because it has no depth beyond its sexual lyrics. Additionally, the Wiki says, “Thotiana” objectifies women both through its explicit lyrics and multiple music videos, all of which show female dancers moving suggestively around Blueface. Even the song’s title is based on a demeaning term directed toward women: “thot,” which stands for “that ho over there.”
Blueface told music website Genius that his love for “thots, sluts, whores” inspired the song, which he wanted to be “a club hit, strip club hit.” While we don’t personally know Blueface and what exactly he meant by his “love for thots, sluts and whores,” his commentary isn’t the most empowering and actually seems quite demeaning toward women.
But do we need to connect the art to the artist? Can lyrics be isolated from the misogyny of the songwriter?
Whether the song is sexist truly depends on the listener and on his or her own interpretation. Even if Blueface’s original intention was to declare his love for women he calls “thots, sluts, whores,” the audience’s reading of “Thotiana” doesn’t necessarily need to match with the artist’s. Music, like other forms or art, doesn’t have to be defined by the intentions of the creator.
If listeners assume that the woman referred to as “Thotiana” is consenting, the song may not be sexist. And in an era where many women are fighting to take back ownership over their own sexuality, popular songs like “Thotiana” could be an outlet for discovering those feelings — especially through music that lends a female voice to the conversation about sex, including the “Thotiana” remix with rapper Cardi B.
In the remix, Cardi begins her verse with an excited “Cardi! Cardiana,” embracing and re-defining the “Thotiana” name on her own terms — similar to the reclaiming of female-directed insults, including “whore” and “bitch,” and turning them around to be compliments for other women.
Cardi continues to refer to her own sexual abilities throughout “Thotiana,” rapping that she makes her unnamed partner “go insane.” This sex-positive attitude shows throughout her other music, social media posts and overall personality; she tells British magazine Dazed that “when you’re around your homegirls, you talk about sex, about men, about this and that. I see the world as my friend and I’m gonna talk to them about what I talk about.” Cardi owns her love of sex in “Thotiana” — isn’t this unapologetic self-pride empowering?
In her article “Why You Should Embrace Your Sexuality,” writer Christina Lewis points out that stigma about sex in general creates an unfortunate culture that “isn’t willing to accept not only female sexuality but sexuality in general. By denying ourselves and closing off that outlet we are removing an element of what makes us human.” So why should songs about sex be inherently “bad” or “shallow”?
Obviously songs focusing only on the sexual worth of women shouldn’t be the only popular songs, but by shaming “Thotiana” for being about sex, or shaming Blueface for enjoying sex, or shaming Cardi B for willingly participating in a song about sex, we contribute to that culture of stigma and erase a part of us that should be celebrated as something special.
“Thotiana” objectifies women, yes, but don’t almost all songs about sex objectify the person of interest? And is it inherently bad to celebrate your or your partner’s sexual prowess?
Even so, the song’s viral popularity brings up a timely issue: How can we normalize and celebrate sexuality without demeaning the people of interest?
