Women Choose Swankstas & Judge Swag: HipHop Traditions of Dignity & Manhood

By Mosheh Adamu aka BFAP thaAnthropologist HipHop culture is deep; so deep that what appears to be negative behaviors are actually positive ones that have lost their true meaning and value over time. Recently, I was able to checkout this 2008 flick, Kings of the Evenings. A beautiful movie, a period piece set during the Great Depression that has a well composed storyline of culture, romance and struggle. The plot centers on the African and African American traditions of the Swanksta or Swenkas Tradition. So Lets Break it Down, So it will forever be Broke Today when we hear or see people who consider themselves as a Swanksta or those who possess Swag we instantly envision the negativity that these characters bring to the table. If we dig deeper into the history and culture, we will find out that these kats have been around longer than the last few years. The first time I heard the term, swank or swanky, I was like what is that? What does that mean? As I thought about it more, these terms are verbs and adjectives for the noun, Swankster (English) Swanksta (Rap). Note, that the -sta sound, replaces -ster. This is not a dereliction or even slang, rather it is a legitimate part of speech derived from the Niger-Congo linguistic system which was the native tongues of the Africans swept up in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and brought to America as captives. In South Africa it is Swenkas, pronounced (Swain- KAas). Furthermore, Swanksta is closely related to Gangsta and Wanksta all definitions of various African men who display a certain type of charisma and character. Then there is also Swagga, Swag that follows this language pattern. Swanksta/ Swenkas - African man who transforms a world that strives to take away his dignity and self-respect, by showcasing the best he has and who he is by the clothes he wears. He will present himself, as well polished, debonair, and handsome and a gentleman in fine suits. He insures that he can stand on his on two feet, but with the help of good women in his life. He works hard to acquire wealth in life. These are some of the best Rappers and Smooth Talkers with Good Game and well-respected individuals in the community.

Gangsta- A man who assumes a position of violence and misogyny as a way to gain street credibility in an effort to be accepted and respected by others. He will present himself as gritty, hardcore with some slight koolness. He does not strive to be a gentleman, rather misogynistic and dominating. He insures that can stand on his own two, but does not view women as helpmates. He works hard to acquire riches in life. They are good Rappers too, but dont talk smoothly and may have a Good Game and respected the most by other men who share the same ideas. Wanksta- A man who is defined by others as posers; frauds who really dont have a pot to piss in, or a window to throw it out of. They will present themselves as a Swanksta or a Gangsta, but has never really acquired anything for him self. He is the least respected of the three, because he perportraits the fraud. They may have a good Rap, talk smooth, but have no Game and is ultimately not respected by anyone in the community. The Tradition As the film Kings of the Evening so elegantly displays, the tradition of the Mens Fashion Show, is a display of confidence, dignity and self-respect as the most prized possessions of a man. Their fine clothes and accessories along with how they present themselves are represented as their Swagga or Swag. Now the kicker to all of this is the fact, that the women are the ultimate judges and choose to stand next to the King. The optimal word here is Choose. Whereas, the Gangsta emulates negative aspects of misogyny (hatred for women) and violence against women learned from some European manhood traditions and choose women; the Swanksta emulates the best in African manhood, knowing and overstanding that women truly mold men out of boys and requires the utmost respect. At the beginning of the evening (opposed to the end of the day), all of these men desire to be adorned by women, but it is the methodology and approach to life that makes this happen. Where We Went Wrong In rappin with a young white kat the other day; he was going on and on about Lil Wayne and how great a rapper he is. I tried to tell the young kat, that Lil Wayne is only talking loud but aint saying nothing but Money, Hoes and Bitches. He responded with yes, Cuz that is what life is all about. Now this may sound contradictory in some sense, but his statement that is shared with so many other men, does hold some water for a pot with a hole in the bottom of it. From the Eurocentric

perspective, this makes perfect sense and it aint nothing wrong with that, because that works for that culture in some respects. From an HipHop-centered perspective this is out of line with the culture. For heterosexual men, the goal is always to be in good favor of women, regardless of the approach. For some men the quest for money and riches gets the women they desire. The message gets lost in the love for material items and the objectification of women. They dont see what the Swanksta/Swenkas see, which is dignity and respect are the tools that really make the quest for women successful. What gets lost in translation from one generation to the next, is the meaning of manhood in HipHop. It is not essentially one of misogynistic, chauvinistic and violent behaviors, but rather a tradition of pride and honor for the women that have enhanced their lives. Many HipHop men, buy into concept of The Battle of the Sexes, thinking that once they are inside a woman, they are going to beat it up and whip it into shape. The truth is, it is a battle that men can never win, because we are invaders going into a territory in which we are totally surrounded. Now if we seek to overstand The Balance of the Sexes, we will go in, with the intention of harmony and peace. Getting Back on Track Ideas of responsibility, self-respect, dignity and accountability must be restored in the community to foster better relations between women and men. Men should at all times hold one another accountable for right and wrong thoughts and actions. No one is untouchable and beside themselves so much, that their actions cannot be called in to question. Case and point; the nine year girl Watoto from the Nile, called out rapper lil Wayne in an open letter that was eventually turned into a YouTube viral video. Watoto calls out the rapper for the way he refers to women, saying, My daddy says that Im a queen, but you be calling women other things. I hear youve got a little girl. Dont you think the same of her? She even speaks on his glamorization of drug use, And people say Say No To Drugs, but tell me who should I trust? You or them? Are you promoting something? Its time our people stop the fronting. Check out the Video Here. Although, lil Wayne was the target, the message is for all Gangstas and Wankstas to stand up and represent more than Money, Hoes and Bitches. Time will only tell, if this young girls plea will be heard and taken heed to.

A woman can build a man up or break a man down. Women have built nations and destroyed them too. The key to this all is that the real power is in the P, the vagina, the pussy for those that speak that way. I dont know about you, but the last time I checked, I wasnt missing a rib, but I do have a belly button. Meaning I came from a woman. Biologically on the DNA chromosomal level, men are XY and women YY; men have both chromosomes of a male and female. Our balance and successes solely depends on our understanding of what women give to us. Women choose the men, they want in their lives as lovers, soulmates, friends and role models. Sometimes, women see more in the men, than men see in themselves; and will try and help build men to live to their full potential. I just recently saw a flyer that stated, Swag does not equal Class. It is the women that are the contest judges and once men overstand this, they can become the Swanksta or the King of the Evening, truly possessing Swag.