Hip Hop and Human Trafficking

I'm that n***a tryin' to holla cause I want some bread
I could care less how she perform when she in the bed
B***h hit the track, catch a date, and come pay the kid
Look baby, this is simple you can't see
You f***n' with me you f****n' with a P.I.M.P

Lyrics from "P.I.M.P (G-Unit Remix)" 50 Cent feat. Snoop Dogg, G-Unit


Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they'll both do you
That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin'
Gotta keep my hustle tight, makin' change off these women, yeah

Lyrics from "It's hard out here for a Pimp" by Three 6 Mafia


The glamorization of "Pimp Culture" is pervasive, especially within the black community. Rap songs abound with lyrics praising pimps and violence towards women. The rap song "It's hard out here for a Pimp" even won an Oscar! It is not "hard out here for a Pimp", it is hard out here for a victim. Victims of human trafficking are beaten, maimed and murdered by their pimps. Victims contract sexually transmitted diseases and are forced to have abortions by their pimps. Victims are not allowed to leave their pimps.

Rap songs like those by 50 Cent and Three 6 Mafia have inspired many to traffic young girls for sexual exploitation in order to make money and live the "pimp lifestyle". Disturbingly, a significant number of these pimps are teen aged boys who prey on vulnerable young girls by pretending to be their boyfriends. Once they believe that the girls are in love with them, the boys use insults, threats and violence to force the girls into prostitution.

Rap songs that glamorize pimps and the sexual exploitation of women act as cultural enablers that convince some that trafficking women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation is acceptable. Ending the glamorization of pimp culture is key to helping eradicate human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.