Economics, Hip-Hop/R&B, and the Prophet Webbie

Not an hour passes on our 24/7 news channels, websites, blogs, etc. without mention of the economic crisis. It hangs over everything. It has consumed the first days of Barack Obama's presidency and has caused people to do things like make death threats to that octuplet lady, Nadya Suleman. From the dissolution of investment banks to the formation of an $800 billion (or $1 trillion+, depending on who's calculations are used) stimulus package... from disturbingly high unemployment rates to home foreclosures... the last year has been incredibly difficult. Many people are quick to point fingers at those they feel are responsible, and economists everywhere point out that, in hindsight, we should've seen this coming. Well, someone did see this coming. And that someone is Webbie.

Back in early 2008, before gas prices hit $4 and people were still living in their homes with absurd mortgage rates, an inspirational and catchy tune hit the airways... "Independent." Its story is one too seldom heard in the lyrics of rappers... a celebration of a woman who's got her own house, her own car, works hard at two jobs... in short, this woman is "a bad broad." However, through adept lyricism, Webbie already points to signs of an economic downturn. Why two jobs? Is this just a general overachiever? Or should we assume that, with job stability tenuous at best, she'd rather hedge her bets than miss a mortgage payment? It's hard to tease out. Regardless, this is a woman who, as Webbie so eloquently notes "leaves the club kinda early cuz she gotta go to work... she got her own money, she don't need no help, man [pronounced as "maine"]."

And with that, the prophecy of Webbie rings loud and true: Hip-hop and R&B brethren... no longer can we afford the commodity of a woman with no job and who spends all our money! Seek not those concerned with your ability to buy them nice things; rather, it is the INDEPENDENT WOMAN who will help us navigate these tumultuous times!!

Listen closely, and you'll hear that the economic realities have manifested in other musicians' songs as well. Ne-Yo just won two Grammys for "Miss Independent," a song about a woman who's "got her own things." Indeed, this is why Ne-Yo loves her... can you say "shared fiscal responsibility?" Because he can. In fact, Ne-Yo has also released a song with Jamie Foxx and Fabolous called "She Got Her Own," a title that speaks louder than any lyric ever could. Either Ne-Yo invested with Bernie Madoff, or he's way ahead of the curve in understanding the long-term effects of our recession/depression. Speaking of Mr. Foxx... he partnered with T-Pain on "Blame It," and while the majority of the song is a lascivious lament on getting drunk and hooking up, at the end, he makes sure to shout out those independent ladies, "And to the independent ballers / Who can buy they['re] own bottles / And if you['re] looking like a model / When them[sic] broke fellas holla [sic] / Tell them bye / And hold ya [sic] drinks up high."

Without question, this is a scary time for everyone. And while some are content to ignore the realities of the situation and spend frivolously on extravagant non-essentials, the rest of us would do well to heed the sage advice of Webbie and his followers, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx. We can get through this, with a little help from independent women.