Hip hop model

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"Hip hop" models are female models who appear in mainstream rap music videos, magazines, calendars and other forms of media. Hip hop models are also known as hip hop honeys, dimes (or dymes or dime pieces), video vixens and eye candy. There are primarily two classifications of Hip hop models. There are models who strictly do print media (magazines, calendars, etc.), while others do print media as well as hip hop videos.

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[edit] Becoming successful

For hip hop models, landing a part in a music video is seen as a way to gain notoriety for themselves as they pursue a career in entertainment business. After making their way into the scene of rap music videos, a model will often attempt to land a feature role in the video of a major rapper. Doing so will allow them to gain more exposure.

Depending on one's success, a model may even go beyond just music videos. Vida Guerra is one of the only hip hop models to cross into mainstream magazines. She was voted FHM model of the year in 2004, and also appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine. Guerra has appeared on The Chappelle Show, in the movie National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 and regularly appears on Telemundo. Vida also has a highly anticipated album due for release in 2007. Gloria Velez was at one time the top hip hop video dancer but, is now an aspiring rapper. In an XXL interview, she commented, saying "I went to the highest level a video girl can go. So now I’m not doing any videos unless I’m rapping in it".[1]

This type of modeling often has to fight negative stereotypes set by models that misuse this genre of modeling. A lot of the girls that are in videos are also the same girls that do runway for BET's Rip the runway. Hair and ethnic makeup campaigns often use these girls for the print advertisement. Tomika Skanes is a very good example of this. Shes appeared in numerous hair campaign (Avalon), hain magazines and Boost Mobile phone commercials. The opportunties for work as a hip-hop model are endless for girls that are versatile.

[edit] Popularity

The hip hop modeling industry has become more popular over the years. Today, there are numerous websites and magazines dedicated in part or totally to this industry. Magazines such King, Smooth (magazine) and Black Men (magazine) are almost totally devoted to the coverage of hip hop video models. While other hip hop magazines like The Source and XXL have created entire sections for models. Some websites such as CutieCentral.com and IndustryModels.com have dedicated entire websites to them. The successful website UrbanStreetz.com has dedicated a section of their website to the models.

Aspiring hip hop models have abundant areas for work, because this industry has also reached calendars, DVDs, VHS, etc. Game Video Inc. has created all these products and features them on their HiphopHoneys.com website. All of these business ventures are a way to make money from these models. Noticing how lucrative the market has become, rappers such as 50 Cent have created DVDs for this purpose. In 2004, 50 Cent "signed an exclusive deal to create an interactive sex DVD bearing his name". [2] Playboy has also joined the industry with its "first music oriented hip hop themed show" entitled Buckwild [3]. Some pornographic actresses such as Heather Hunter, Lacey DuValle, Crystal Knight, Nikki Fairchild and Obsession (porn star) are also popular hip hop video performers.

[edit] Controversy

There is a long list of criticism pertaining to controversies created by hip hop models. Many people in the mainstream feel that hip hop models represent negative, subservient or misogynistic images of women, especially black and Latino women. Detractors accuse hip hop models of causing a misrepresentation of the morals and values of minority women, because hip hop videos are the only way many people around the world are exposed to American Black and Latino culture. For instance, in 2004, Nelly caused protests because of his music video for the song "Tip Drill".[4]

In 2005, a former Hip Hop music video star and model Karrine Steffans aka "Supahead" released her debut book Confessions of a Video Vixen, where she lashes out at the world of hip hop modeling, especially its degradation of women. The book's publisher describes the book as "part tell all, part cautionary tale"[5]. Another hip hop model, Candace Smith, said in an XXL interview, "what I’ve seen on [music video] sets is complete degradation".[6]

Criticism has also reached the very networks that broadcast such videos. BET's former late-night program "BET Uncut" often featured explicit music videos that ordinarily would not have been shown during the day, and many contain partial nudity. "Before, artists were mostly making sexually oriented material for the underground market — providing them to strip clubs, or selling them as part of videos or DVDs. Now, they’re bringing them directly to television, through places like BET Uncut and the Playboy network. And more outlets are growing for those who want to see more — or less — than a bikini".[7]

[edit] Successful hip hop models

For those who have been fortunate enough to make a name for themselves as hip hop models, there are many avenues to bigger success. Some of these girls have only done limited work as hip hop models but, have found ways to market themselves. Many hip hop models have marketed themselves successfully through fan websites, film, calendars, DVDs, import car shows, personal appearances, party hosting, and various other projects.

  • Maliah Michel (www.maliahmichel.com, covers - Smooth Girl, Black Men, videos - Fabolous, Game, PitBull, Twista, Chingy)
  • Bria Myles (www.briamyles.com, covers - King, Black Men's SSX, Rap City "Who's That Girl," several mens mag and video features)
  • Angel Melaku ("Good Life", Kanye West, Blackmens Magazine, SSX, King Magazine, Smooth Girl)
  • Melyssa Ford (Playboy Model of the Month, Numerous music Videos and Mens magazines, Maxim Feature, BET Co-Host of BET Style)
  • Esther Baxter (Known also by the nickname ""Miss Freek-a-Leek"")
  • Vida Guerra (Featured in FHM, Playboy and on Telemundo)
  • Gloria Velez (Former # 1 hip hop model now an aspiring rapper)
  • Francine Dee (Asian model appeared in the movie Soul Plane)
  • Tomika Skanes (Candy Shop, B.O.B)
  • La’Shontae aka Tae ("What You Know", T.I.)
  • Nicole Alexander
  • Buffie The Body(So Seductive)[Tony Yayo]Oh Yes)[Juelz Santana]
  • Azzareya Curtis
  • Lizz Robbins (King Magazine 2005 Webgirl of the year)
  • Khrysti Hill (King Magazine 2006 Webgirl of the year)
  • Whyte Chocolate
  • Roselyn Chase
  • Chessika Cartwright (Candy Shop, Black Men's, King Magazine)
  • Summer Walker (Smooth Magazine, XXL)
  • Nicole Ricca (Numerous Videos, Blackmens Magazine, Smooth)
  • Liris Crosse
  • Jayonna Fabro (Show Magazine, FAME Magazine)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  Thompson, Bonsu and Huang, Howard (Aug. 4, 2004). "Eye Candy Hall of Fame". XXL Magazine. New York: Harris Publications. Retrieved from [8] on February 11, 2006.
  2. ^  Miller, Dan (Jan 5, 2004). "Digital Sin Signs 50 Cent; Rapper Will Appear at AVN Adult Entertainment Expo". AVN.com. Retrieved from [9] on February 11, 2006.
  3. ^  (Jan 7, 2004). "Playboy Launches Hip-Hop Show". Rap News Network. Retrieved from [10] on February 11, 2006. Nas Lost
  4. ^  Bailey, Moya (May 24, 2004). "Students at Spelman College protest Nelly's video 'Tip Drill.'" Alternet.org. Retrieved from [11] on February 11, 2006.
  5. ^  (2005) "Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans". HarperCollins.com. Retrieved from [12] on February 11, 2006.
  6. ^  Salaam, Khalid and Palting, Joaquin (2006). "Eye Candy: Tastes Like Candace". XXL Magazine. New York: Harris Publications. Retrieved from [13] on February 11, 2006.
  7. ^  Associated Press (Apr 15, 2004). "BET provides more 'exposure' for music videos". MSNBC.com. Retrieved from [14] on February 11, 2006.