Music often captures the essence of a generation, and as millennials reflect, it’s clear that the soundscape of our youth was a mixed bag. While catchy tunes filled the airwaves, many popular songs were unfortunately laced with casual sexism. However, amidst this less-than-ideal environment, there were unexpected glimmers of progress. Today, we celebrate one such unlikely beacon of gender equality: the radio edit of Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz’s 2003 hit, “Get Low.”
The original, uncensored version of “Get Low” raised eyebrows with its explicit language, specifically the use of the word “bitch.” But in a stroke of genius, Lil Jon, demonstrating a remarkable awareness of his audience and the potential impact of his art, transformed the track for radio play. He replaced the offensive term with “females,” effectively turning a potentially misogynistic song into, dare we say, a feminist statement.
Think back to high school hallways and the soundtrack provided by stations like CRUNK FM. Instead of hearing Lil Jon use derogatory terms, we were presented with lyrics like, “I like to see the female twerking” and “all you females crawl.” This subtle but significant change was pivotal. It signaled to young men that referring to women respectfully as “females” was the way to go. Perhaps, without this crucial edit, teenage boys might have felt emboldened to use disrespectful language. But thanks to Lil Jon, a true champion of positive masculinity, a generation was guided towards respect.
Other prominent hip hop and pop artists of the early 2000s could learn a valuable lesson from the “Get Low” radio edit. If your chart-topping anthem about commanding intoxicated women in suggestive ways includes offensive language towards those women, you might want to reconsider your approach to being an ally. Lil Jon showed us the way.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Lil Jon and the entire East Side Boyz crew. They carved out a small, yet significant, space where the young women of my generation could feel a sense of safety during a formative time. From the window to the walls, they truly provided us “females” with a safe space, all thanks to the thoughtful radio edit of the “Get Low Song Lil Jon.”
