Style Icon of the Week: Syd tha Kyd
Syd's presence on the music scene as well as membership to rap group Odd Future (OFWGKTA) has stirred different emotions and reactions from various communities. I chose her to be my fashion icon of the week because of the visceral reaction to her style.
I also picked her as my Style Icon because she is the antithesis of fashion. She's not quirky fashionable like Marta Minujín, nor is she glamorous like Lena Horne. You won't see her in red bottom pumps, thousand dollar weaves nor will you see her in trendy brands like Five Four, or 10 Deep. Her clothing style is basic and reflects the IDGAF attitude of her rap comrades, as well as, peers in her generation who don't have a record deal.
I literally have pondered this post for a few weeks. I usually do my Style Icon of the Week every Friday, but I could not find the words to write this post. Even as I publish it, it is painfully unfinished, and I fear inadequate to describe the force that is Syd tha Kyd and Odd Future. Syd tha Kyd, the Producer/DJ for the controversial rap group, Odd Future inspires many contradictory and hypocritical feelings and emotions within me. And obviously I am not alone, Syd has managed to piss off the GLBTQ community as well as feminists, and many more.
I think Dream Hampton said it best, "Syd the Kid’s sexy stud profile and her confusing, misogynistic videos speak to the many contradictions and posturing your generation inherited from the hip-hop generation before you."
As a proud card carrying (lol) heterosexual, I find her "stud" image and IDGAF attitude sexy. Not that I am ready to get a rainbow bumper sticker anytime soon, however, I will admit I find her swagger appealing. Furthermore as a woman who is appalled by sexism, "slut shaming" misogyny, and "rape culture", I should be offended by her and her group, but alas, I am not.
As I pondered this article, I realized my own view points about their lyrics, music, attitude and comments made me question my own opinions and beliefs. During the brain storming session, I felt hypocritical at best and a complete fraud at worst. So if this article rambles, is incoherent and unorganized, understand this is truly how I feel and this is what OFWGKTA's effect is for many people.
I think this contradiction is the beauty of Odd Future. The best rappers? Nope. The new Wu-Tang? Hell no. Best music ever? Not even close. But it's good. It's intriguing. It inspires emotion (whatever strange emotion that may be) which is lacking in music today, ACROSS THE BOARD! (Not just in hip hop or R&B! Rock, pop, country all of it has taken a turn for the worse. I'd be happy to argue my point in any genre, with anyone who is willing.) But the exquisitely simple and sublime beats (no sampling) with graphic, lonely, violent, racist and homophobic lyrics...is.... hypnotic...almost. It's like the bad car accident you stare at, even though you really don't want to.
Some of you may say this is not different from mainstream hip hop, but it is. IT REALLY IS.
"One, two, you’re the girl that I want
Three, four, five, six, seven, shit
Eight is the bullets if you say no after all this
And I just couldn’t take it, you’re so motherfuckin gorgeous
Gorgeous, baby you’re gorgeous
I wanna drag your lifeless body to the forest
And fornicate with it but that’s because I’m in love with
You… cunt"
-She Tyler the Creator featuring Frank Ocean
See? It is profoundly different. Necrophilia as well as misogyny? I haven't found that in the hip hop songs I like. Fronted by Tyler the Creator, other members include Syd, Left Brain, Frank Ocean, Casey Veggies, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Jasper Dolphin and Taco. Like Syd, Odd Future, is filled with contradictions. They use "faggot" in their lyrics and tweets with overwhelming regularity, however, both Syd and Frank Ocean are openly homosexual. When Frank Ocean publicly came out, in early July, Tyler the Creator immediately went to Twitter with his own brand of vernacular to support Frank. Confused?
Syd confirms this contradiction. During an MTV interview she made the infamous statement, "That's what I do Dad, I smack bitches". (See below)
As you know, the feminist community went bananas. "How could she?" "Is she confused?" "Why is she a part of this homophobic, rape culture promoting, misogynistic group?" All of the questions are valid, nor do I condone what she said...but yet, I understand it. I understand why this group and seemingly the younger hip hop generation is full of contradiction, and it's not pretty. Furthermore, it's our generation's fault, as well as the one's that came before us.
We passed down the contradictions and outright hypocritical aspects of our generation. I frequently listened and even repeated songs which refer to women in the most derogatory way, without passing thought or guilt. With a gleeful reckless abandon, even! In my young mind, I didn't understand the implications of the words, nor did I care (to be quite honest). Even with age and hopefully wisdom, I still love hip hop. The good, the bad and the ugly. No intellectual reasoning could ever change my love of hip hop, either.
So here we have a young lesbian, with a laid back demeanor, producer of a group that's been labeled homophobic and misogynistic to the tenth degree...who happens to rap/sing about misogyny and relationships with females. As bizarre as it may be...I understand it. The anger, frustration and confusion that naturally come with youth but also comes with being apart of, not one but, two(!) marginalized communities. Whether we want to admit it or not, Odd Future and Syd tha Kyd are merely pointing the mirror towards us, toward society as a whole. Ugly, isn't it?
I have no answers, nor am I going to pass judgement on a 19 year old kid with a microphone, some Mac Books and a beat machine. I am not looking for Syd to represent me as a Black Woman, nor do I think lesbians or feminists should look to her to be their poster child. I mean, she is a child! Who wants to be judged for or actions made as a 19 year old? I am 31 and still am leery of that kind of responsibility!
SO, I guess the old adage is true, "if you don't like it, don't buy it!" However, if you find yourself listening to Syd tha Kyd’s “Cocaine”, or Tyler’s “She” featuring Frank Ocean...hopefully you will understand confusion, rage and indifference can sometimes create beauty.
