‘Invest in this Pussy, Boy’: Negotiating Commercialisation and Sexual Identity in Salt-N-Pepa’s “Hot, Cool & Vicious” (1986), Lil Kim’s “Hard Core” (1996), and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Good News” (2020)

This thesis analyses the construction of sexual identities and the representation of female sexuality in Salt-N-Pepa’s “Hot, Cool & Vicious” (1986), Lil’ Kim’s “Hard Core” (1996), and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Good News” (2020). A thematic analysis uncovered discourses of authentication, economy, desire, and womanhood. These discourses are represented uniquely by each of the three artists, and in this thesis I closely analyse the lyrics within each album to illustrate the creativity and complexity of the identity creation and ideological positioning for commercial rappers. Each album functions as a case study to display the diverse ways that sexual identities are constructed within rap, from the early days of rap’s commercialisation in the 80s to the present day. Following language and sexuality research (Bucholtz & Hall 2004) and particularly queer linguistics (Butler 1990; Coates 2013; Motschenbacher & Stegu 2013), my thematic analysis and subsequent close analysis exemplifies the dynamic construction of identities in rap music. Female rappers can clearly be seen to enter into negotiations with other rappers, requirements of the industry, legacies of hip-hop subculture, and socioeconomic and political dynamics within rap and wider US culture.