MC Lyte's "2 Young 4 What" Lyrics Sparks Debate About Double Standards In Hip Hop

MC Lyte's classic lyrics from “2 Young 4 What” have sparked an intense debate about double standards in Hip Hop. The conversation recently popped up on the latest episode of The Culture Report host Ray Daniels brought up “2 Young 4 What,” which was released in 1991, when Lyte was just 21 years old. “I gotta ask: why are we not up in arms about the MC Lyte line?,” he asked in reference to the portion of the song in which she raps: “It may sound nasty and it may sound mean, But I’m into little boys that are about seventeen/ I don’t know why, but they put up a fight/ And hot damn that excites the MC Lyte.” Asked what he believes would serve as appropriate repercussions for Lyte’s 30-plus year old lyrics, Daniels drew comparison to the sexual assault charges levied against high profile men like Russell Simmons years after the alleged actions took place. “I want the same thing everyone else has gotten,” he answered, referencing Bill Cosby in particular. “I want the same anger, and the same vigor, and the same grooming, that they’re talkin’ about…I want the same anger for this! Some commenters were quick to defend the legendary MC. “Nah. It’s ridiculous, it was a different time then, “You gotta ask yourself who is Lyte as a person? And who was ultimately hurt by that? Because if we start diggin into old rap lyrics it’s gonna get ugly for everyone. “MC Lyte was a teenager herself when she wrote those lyrics,” wrote another commenter. Still, others were quick to point out that there was, in fact, a double standard, and that boys aren’t as protected as girls from sexual assault. Becuz culturally we don’t protect our sons. Period,” wrote one passionate commenter, in particular. “Protecting them makes them ‘soft’ And the last thing we want as a community is a man that is considered soft or emotional or emotionally in tuned in anyway. The only emotion we’re allowed is rage.

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