Why is the pimp a reoccurring character in Hip Hop music and culture?

Ask yourself these questions… Do you like or admire pedophiles? Are you amused by or do you like child abusers (physical and/or mental)? Do you look up to either of them? Do you know anyone that does? I am going to go out on a limb and guess that the answer to all four questions is no and I will base the rest of this article on that assumption. Why then, do we have such a fascination with Pimps here in America and in Hip Hop culture?

I am not against prostitution. I would not recommend it as an occupation, but I strongly support a woman’s right to earn her living in that fashion. I think there should strict, stringent guidelines and regulations to keep it safe, clean and as disease free as possible. More importantly it should keep the women safe from abuse and keep underage girls/children out of the business all together. This scenario is rare. It is limited to some high class call girls (many of whom end up like the hookers I will discuss later after their youth and vitality have long departed) and to places where prostitution is legal.

I developed my own personal disdain of pimps in the 70’s when I would see them try to snare young girls into their fold. These were the outrageous gaudy clown like characters we see in the movies. The large hats, bell bottoms, platform shoes, gold chains and feathers whose appearance was more similar to peacocks than human. Scum of the earth. But unlike their movie incantations, in the real world, these low lives preyed and dealt mainly in children.

The Pimp: First, let me say for the record that there are 2 basic types of Pimp.
1- The first is so rare that he is almost not even worth mentioning. The odds of you meeting one are almost the same as hitting the Powerball Lottery twice in one week. He is the boyfriend Pimp. He is actually more of a bodyguard figure. Very often he gets a small commission for looking after the lady or they live together and live a very conventional life outside of work. He actually performs a much needed service.

2- The rest of the pimps are the lowest form of scum on the planet. They abuse, use, rape, rob and molest women, girls and boys. Even the best of their ilk who only peddle the flesh of adults are not beyond dabbling in the occasional 12yo runaway. They hook them on drugs and force them to sell their body, soul and youth. They are nothing more than a shell of a human being after they have bled them dry.

Let’s start with a little known fact… over 90% of pimp managed prostitutes and hookers are either below 16 or started out younger than 16. In 1981, the General Accounting Office estimated that there were 600,000 children under the age of 16 working as prostitutes in the United States. By enlarge; they are initiated into the trades via a gang rape right after a statutory rape of the pimp himself. Soon after, they are hooked on drugs and become slaves. They become the personal property of their pimp. They are his to do with as he pleases including, but not limited to torture and rape. These are children between the ages of 11 and 17. Most of them will never get out of the life and if they do they will never again be made whole. They get no schooling, job training and their self esteem and feeling of self worth is befitting of the slave they were. How are they to ever adjust to life outside their trade? So why, is the pimp a reoccurring character in Hip Hop music and culture?
Granted, very few Hip Hop artists are or were actual pimps. But other than having great sums of money (derived primarily from raping and abusing children), what redeeming qualities do they possess? I just don’t get it. Why would a rapper or MC wanna take on this persona?

I used to know a stick-up crew in East New York Brooklyn. Several well armed thugs with high caliber firearms that hunted drug dealers for a living. Unfortunately for them, one drug dealer was armed even better than them and not only did they not get his loot, but they also lost a member of their pack in the firefight. They then decided to rob pimps… all over the city. Pimps were not usually heavily armed, most of them are punk ass bitches only able to smack around women and children, and when they get robbed, like drug dealers, pimps never report it to the police. If shit gets out of hand and they have to put him down, no one ever really pursues the killer of child molesting pimps with any real zeal. This worked out pretty good for them. Always wondered why more stick up kids didn’t go that route. It is easy money and they make for great target too. LOL So why is it again that the pimp a reoccurring character in Hip Hop music and culture?


Cybergodd
XSNRG Magazine