WAP: the summer smash hit that exposed the fear of sexually liberated black women

What’s so dangerous about a sexually liberated woman? If the critical commentary surrounding Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s chart-topping song WAP is any indication then the answer is well, everything.
Premiering on 7 August, the video garnered 26 million YouTube views within the first 24 hours and is perhaps one of the strongest female rap releases to date. Yet WAP isn’t just the summer smash we all needed. As an acronym for “wet ass pussy”, it has emerged as the new anthem of female-centred sexual empowerment.

Complete with sexy costumes, fantastical set pieces, exotic animals, and updo hairstyles reminiscent of the very best of the 1990s, the WAP video is nothing short of a visual feast. Lyrically, the song features the tongue-in-cheek musings of two female rappers known for their unabashed embrace of their sexual power. The opening line, “I said certified freak, seven days a week,” sets the tone for a song that celebrates sex as a potent vehicle for personal expression and the development of individual autonomy.
However, with so much to celebrate, it was surprising to see so many men lambaste WAP for its supposed violation of feminist principles.