Black masculinity is both socially and historically constructed. The continued oppression of African Americans is revealed by the often inferior education, unequal employment, and disparities in incarceration rates that they continue to be challenged with daily. These inequalities are heavily a byproduct of racial discrimination. This is shown by the drastic differences in unemployment and incarceration rates that remain existent, despite when all factors outside of race are accounted for as being equal. Many of the derogatory stereotypes that plague African Americans can be correlated with the social injustices that were previously listed. For example, the stereotype of laziness can be attributed to a high unemployment rate, and similarly, low intelligence can be linked with inadequate schools and education.

Regardless of the negative, brutish image portrayed of Africans and African Culture, ever since the era of Jim Crow, there has been a large white audience that has enjoyed witnessing the embodiment of African stereotypes for the purpose of humor. While thankfully not very many whites still go into black face to imitate African Americans, there is still a large demographic of white youth that attempt to copy the appearance of black stereotypes. While our society has moved away from the ridiculing of pickanninys and the Uncle Tom stereotypes, there is still an obsession with the black stereotypes commonly perpetuated by rappers. Many of these stereotypes can be classified under the portrayal of black masculinity in popular culture, or more specifically hip hop. The term black masculinity includes the perceived dominant image of African Americans as hypersexual, homophobic, violent, and criminals. The success of the rap song “ten crack commandments” by Biggie Smalls is indicative of the positive response that is frequently awarded to rappers that glorify African American stereotypes.

The song features rhymes that illustrate the glorification of black masculinity stereotypes such as criminal behavior, violence, homophobia, and the objectification of women. The basis of the song is about dealing crack, an epidemic during the 1990’s that often resulted in great wealth or harsh prison sentences for countless dealers. The existence of rap music in communities where drug dealing is more commonplace, in combination with the fact that rappers are predominantly black, has resulted in many people believing African Americans have a greater likelihood of being drug offenders than what exists in actuality. Songs like the “ten crack commandments” feed into this stereotype, as rappers who are public figures with proven influence are able to express pride in the drug dealing behavior that is collectively considered deviant by those of any race. Smalls raps, “Follow these rules you’ll have mad bread to break up.” Smalls supports the stereotype of criminality for African Americans by using the allure of wealth, “bread”, as a justification for breaking the law.

Smalls demonstrates blatant homophobia in one of the few instances he mentions sexuality. Smalls raps, “money and blood don’t mix like two dicks and no bitch.” This rhyme manages to promote both the stereotypes of homophobia and hyper-sexuality amongst African Americans simultaneously. The homophobia is more obvious as he clearly states two guys, “dicks”, don’t belong together unless a girl is present. This, however, suggests the promiscuity of having two guys, “dicks”, and one girl, “bitch” is perfectly fine and natural.

The only other time Smalls mentions sexuality is in reference to the sexual activity of an unknown woman. Small’s reinforces the stereotype that due to the barbaric sex drive that African American males are perceived to possess, black men only seek out women for the sexual pleasure that they can provide. Smalls supports the stereotype by rapping, “Heard she suck a good dick.” Smalls gives very little detail about this girl (she isn’t even named), but he makes sure that her sexual behavior is well known.

Biggie Smalls is never one to shy from sharing his violent past and intentions, and “the ten crack commandments” is certainly no exception. Once again, Biggie Smalls uses the desire to obtain money as the selling point for his actions. Smalls states, “I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for they bricks and chips.” Smalls glorifies that his violence is what has enabled him to become wealthy despite residing in the projects. Many believe that Small’s rhymes truthfully depict that the only way for black youth to escape the projects is by engaging in violence, drug dealing, or other unlawful behavior. This constant representation of the gangster image in only one light perpetuates the misinformed conceptions that this is the typical lifestyle of all African Americans.