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Ratchet is a slang term in American hip hop culture that, in its original sense, [1] was a derogatory term used to refer to an uncouth woman, and may be a Louisianan dialect form of the word "wretched".
In the 2000s–2010s, the word became loosely connotative of denoting overt confidence, defiance, fervor, or otherwise being descriptive of actions displaying boisterous and unruly behavior (similar to that of the male archetype "bad boy") when attributed to a person. It is primarily used in street slang and is popular among African American women. [2] Originally explicitly derogatory, the term can be interpreted as positive or derogatory, based on the subject. [3]
Since the late 1990s, rappers from Shreveport, Louisiana, have used the term in their songs. Its usage is recorded early as 1992 by Pimp C of UGK in the song "I'm So Bad" from the album Too Hard to Swallow . [5] It was used again in 1998 in rapper E-40's "Lieutenant Roast a Botch" track from his album The Element of Surprise. [6] The word also appears in publication in 1999, with the song "Do the Ratchet" on the album Ratchet Fight in the Ghetto by Anthony Mandigo from Shreveport, Louisiana. [7] Mandigo reportedly learned the term from his grandmother. [7] In 2004, Lil' Boosie, in conjunction with Mandigo, recorded a new version of "Do the Ratchet". The CD liner notes define ratchet as: "n., pron., v, adv., 1. To be ghetto, real, gutter, nasty. 2. It's whatever, bout it." [8]
In its original US sense, [9] the term referred to an uncouth woman, and may be a Louisianan dialect form of the word "wretched". [10] The term has since been extended to have broader meanings and connotations and is no longer strictly bound by race or gender. [11] [12] [7]
The term gained popularity in 2012 through music artists and celebrities. [11] [12] [7] It has been used in ways similar to the word "ghetto". [13] "Ratchet" can be used as an adjective, noun, or verb. [11]
In 2024, on the first episode of John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA, Ray J said he loved the word ratchet. He described his genre as ratchet reality TV, which he defined by saying, "Ratchet means like a high-level, high-octane, dramatic kind of television show, um, that sometimes has fights here and there."
The word has evolved to have many different meanings, and it can have either a positive or negative connotation. [7] [13] Some African-American women have reappropriated the word and embraced the meaning, including to describe ratchet feminism, whereas others point to how the term reinforces the negative portrayal of African-American women in the media. [7] [14] [15] The term has also been reappropriated to describe a mode of intersectional analysis associated with African-American LGBT culture. [16]
Numerous musicians have used the term "ratchet" in their songs. In November 2012, LL Cool J released a single called "Ratchet". [7] In December 2012, Beyoncé posted a picture of herself wearing earrings that contained the word "ratchet". [7] Juicy J, Lil Debbie, Cam'ron, Future, and Lil' Boosie are some other artists who have also used the term in their music. [14] Miley Cyrus had been criticized by some as appropriating ratchet culture. [14] [13] [17] The term and concept of ratchet was displayed in the 2013 YouTube video by Emmanuel and Phillip Hudson, "Ratchet Girl Anthem- SHE RACHEEET!". [18] [19] Lil Peep and producer Diplo made the record "RATCHETS" featuring Lil Tracy. The day that Lil Peep died, Lil Tracy uploaded a song to SoundCloud called "Ratchet Bitches Cocaina" and removed it shortly afterwards. [20] Megan Thee Stallion used the term in the chorus of her 2020 viral hit, "Savage". [21] Lizzo used the term in the chorus of her 2021 single, "Rumors", which features Cardi B. [22]
Bitch is a pejorative slang word for a person, usually a woman. When applied to a woman or girl, it means someone who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive, or dominant. When applied to a man or boy, bitch reverses its meaning and is a derogatory term for being subordinate, weak, or cowardly. In gay speech the word bitch can refer approvingly to a man who is unusually assertive or has the characteristics used pejoratively of a woman.
Southern hip hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip hop, or dirty south, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida—often titled "The Big 5," five states which constitute the "Southern Network" in rap music.
UGK was an American rap duo from Houston, Texas, more specifically an outskirt called Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Mitchell “Big Mitch” Queen who would eventually leave the group to pursue a football career and Chad "Pimp C" Butler with Bernard “Bun B” Freeman replacing Big Mitch who would still make guest appearances on UGK songs. They released their first major-label album, Too Hard to Swallow, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the self-titled Underground Kingz album, which contained their single "International Players Anthem " and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, in August 2007. The duo has also been featured on hit singles by several other artists, such as "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" by Three 6 Mafia. Pimp C founded UGK Records in late 2005. On December 4, 2007, Pimp C died in his West Hollywood, California hotel room.
Bernard James Freeman, known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the southern rap duo UGK, a group he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work with UGK, Bun B has released five solo albums, including 2010's Trill OG, which received the rare 5-mic rating from The Source.
Country rap is a fusion genre of popular music, blending country music with hip hop–style singing or rapping.
Webster Gradney Jr. who performs under the mononym Webbie, is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Torence Ivy Hatch Jr., better known by his stage name Boosie BadAzz or simply Boosie, is an American rapper. Hatch began rapping in the 1990s as a member of the Southern hip hop collective Concentration Camp, eventually pursuing a solo career in 2000 with the release of his debut album Youngest of da Camp. After leaving the label the following year, he signed with Pimp C's Trill Entertainment to release his second studio album, For My Thugz (2002). One of the most prominent figures of Southern hip hop, Hatch has gone on to release thirteen solo studio albums, as well as seven collaborative albums and 44 mixtapes.
Christopher Jerrod Dooley Jr., known professionally as Hurricane Chris, is an American rapper and songwriter. Dooley is best known for his 2007 debut single "A Bay Bay", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. The song preceded the release of his debut studio album 51/50 Ratchet (2007), which moderately entered the Billboard 200 and saw unfavorable critical response. His second album, Unleashed (2009), failed to chart, but yielded moderate chart success from its lead single, "Halle Berry ".
"Wipe Me Down" is a song by American rapper Foxx, included as a song on the Trill Entertainment compilation album Trill Entertainment Presents: Survival of the Fittest (2007). The song's backing track was composed by American record producer Mouse On Tha Track. A remixed version, featuring additional vocals from fellow rappers Lil Boosie and Webbie, was released as a single in 2007, with Lil Boosie listed as the lead artist. There is another remixed version featuring UGK, Foxx has different vocals than the other remix version along with vocals from Pimp C & Bun B.
Thug Disease is a compilation presented by American rapper Spice 1. It was released December 17, 2002 on Rap Classics, and also separately on Lovin' Paper Music Group. The album features guest performances by Kurupt, Bad Azz, Juvenile, MJG, Roscoe, Brotha Lynch Hung and UGK.
Michael Len Williams II, known professionally as Mike Will Made It or simply Mike Will, is an American record producer. He is best known for producing trap beats for several Southern hip hop and pop artists on commercially successful singles. His credits include "Black Beatles" and "Powerglide" by Rae Sremmurd, "Mercy" by Kanye West, "No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna, "Love Me" by Lil Wayne, "Body Party" by Ciara, "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus, "Formation" by Beyoncé, and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar. He embarked on a career as a non-performing lead artist in 2013 with his debut single "23", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2017 follow-up single, "Rake It Up" peaked at number eight on the chart. He has released six mixtapes and one solo studio album, Ransom 2 (2017).
Trap is a subgenre of hip-hop which originated in the Southern United States, with lyrical references to trap starting in 1991 but the modern sound of trap appearing in 1999. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang term "trap house", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music is known for its simple, rhythmic, minimalistic productions that uses synthesized drums, and is characterized by complex hi-hat patterns, snare drums, bass drums, some tuned with a long decay to emit a bass frequency, and lyrical content that often focuses on drug use and urban violence.
Twerking is a type of dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving throwing or thrusting the hips back or shaking the buttocks, often in a low squatting stance. It is individually performed chiefly but not exclusively by women.
"Feelin' Myself" is a song by American singer will.i.am featuring singer Miley Cyrus, rappers French Montana and Wiz Khalifa, and record producer DJ Mustard. It was released on November 26, 2013, by Interscope Records as the lead single from the re-release of will.i.am's fourth studio album #willpower (2013). It was written by its performers along with Jean-Baptiste, while production was handled by non-performing guest artist Mustard. An accompanying music video was premiered on November 26, 2013. The songs instrumental was noted for its similarity to "Gettin Tho'd" by rapper Paul Wall, which was also produced by Mustard. The song peaked at number ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100.
The discography of Boosie Badazz, an American rapper, consists of 13 studio albums, 7 collaboration albums, 44 mixtapes, 3 compilation albums, 1 extended play, 26 singles, and 33 music videos.
Mumble rap is a loosely defined microgenre of hip hop music that largely spread via the online audio distribution platform SoundCloud in the 2010s. The term implies mumbling, or unclear vocal delivery, used by artists, and it has been used to describe rappers who do not share the rap genre's traditional emphasis on meaningful lyricism, choosing instead to emphasize other aspects of delivery like melody, mood and tone.
Emo rap is a subgenre of hip hop with influence from emo. Originating from the SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s, the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as trap-style beats with vocals that are usually sung. The most prominent artists in the genre were Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld.
Zoe Jeanneau Canto, also known as La Zowi, is a Spanish Latin trap musician.
The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards were held on August 26, 2019, at the Prudential Center in Newark, being the first VMA ceremony to be held in New Jersey. Sebastian Maniscalco hosted the 36th annual ceremony. Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish were the most awarded with three each. Missy Elliott became the first female rapper to win the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The show was broadcast on a variety of Viacom-owned networks, as well as their respective websites, and apps through TV Everywhere authentication. 2019 MTV Video Music Awards won the 2020 Webby Award for Events in the category Social.
Ratchet feminism emerged in the United States from hip hop culture in the early 2000s, largely as a critique of, and a response to, respectability politics. It is distinct from black feminism, womanism, and hip hop feminism. Ratchet feminism coopts the derogatory term (ratchet). Other terms used to describe this concept include ratchet womanism as used by Georgia Tech professor Joycelyn Wilson or ratchet radicalism used by Rutgers professor Brittney Cooper. Ratchet is an identity embraced by many millennials and Gen Z black women and girls. The idea of ratchetness as empowering, or of ratchet feminism, has been articulated by artists and celebrities like Nicki Minaj, City Girls, Amber Rose, and Junglepussy, scholars like Brittney Cooper and Mikki Kendall, and through events like Amber Rose's SlutWalk. Many view ratchet feminism as a form of female empowerment that doesn't adhere to respectability politics.