Fed up of the images women portray in rappers videos, the women of Spelman College protested Nelly’s planned bone marrow charity visit to the campus. With Nelly in particular, the women were outraged at the images of women shown in his video “Tip Drill” that shows him sliding a credit card through a woman’s backside. Students at the college say the videos have not only held a showcase on the internet but cable channels such as BET. The women said the outpouring of explicit videos have reached an all time high.” It’s very harsh. This is something we have to see and listen to on a daily basis,” said senior Shanequa Yates. “Nelly just didn’t want to come here and face the criticism for the choices he’s made”.
Speaking on behalf of Nelly’s label, Universal Records, Wendy Washington said the women of Spelman were looking for a scapegoat on this issue and used Nelly’s name and music unfairly. “He did not think it was appropriate at all for students to use that as a forum,” Washington said. “I think he was profoundly frustrated. He was not the first, certainly, to do a video like that.” With a video program titled “Uncut” airing weeknights at 3am, BET broadcast videos that would normally never be played during regular hours showing such videos at Nelly’s “Tip Drill”. “‘Uncut’ has developed an almost cult-like following because of the freedom of artists to express themselves,” Michael Lewellen, Head of Corporate Communications told MSN. “It is specifically for adults. These are music videos whose content is too strong for our day points. We exercise more scrutiny than is required”. With plans to start a petition and possible campaign on networks, students are at a loss where to begin making changes.
“I don’t see a solution as long as you have people willing to do it,” senior Nikole Howard said. “You have to demand respect, but I doubt these women even thought they were being disrespected. It makes me sad, makes me realize how much work we have to do to educate women.”
