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Hip-Hop Girlfriends: Overnight Celebrity or Just Arm Candy?
March 3rd, 2009
Lately, there seems to be an infatuation with the girlfriends of hip-hop artists. These women have become overnight celebrities in their own right, whether it be through the art of a TMZ video or a Youtube upload that has virally spread around like an internet wildfire. Not that this is a new phenomenon. I remember the doubt that fans had when Ms. Melody, former wife of KRS-One, decided to put out a rap album. Despite any talent that she may have had (arguable or not), no one wanted to ever give Ms. Melody any props for being anything else but KRS’s wife.
But these days, the girlfriends of rap artists are getting media attention for being just that—girlfriends. No rapping, no singing, no nothing; just the high honor of being the chosen one in the sea of women in which artists dive. So the question becomes, can being someone’s girlfriend transcend you into stardom or will these girls get the short end of the stick when, and if, the relationship fizzles out?
Kanye West is one celebrity whose girlfriends always seem to get their 5 minutes of fame. His latest, Amber Rose, a shaved-head, light-skinned aspiring model with a fierce body and a permanent cigarette attached to her fingers, seems to be the most intriguing of all, especially as the lesbian rumors continue to pour in. Blogs also say that Amber is a former stripper, and if pictures soon surface, I predict her star will rise even more so. But it still remains to be seen whether Amber’s appeal transcends being Kanye’s girl. In the past, former Kanye girls have become partially successful—depending on how you look at it. Alexis Phifer, the most recent ex, is an aspiring clothing designer, and Brooke Crittendon is a current cast member of the BET reality series, Harlem Heights.
In the case of Joe Budden and his girl Tahiry, who was just recently photographed for the cover of King magazine, the scales seem to be tipping in her direction. Unbeknownst to Tahiry, she became the star of Joe Budden’s video blogs–the reality tv-type material that became popular on his Youtube channel. Since the couple started broadcasting their private lives on the internet, Tahiry has become the latest hip-hop darling. But while a possible reality TV and modeling career could be awaiting her, will she ever grow outside of the Joe Budden girl role?
In an era where the role of women in hip hop has been reduced significantly, it remains to be seen whether dating a rapper (yeah, I said it) is the fastest way to come up. Please, let the comments begin…because I smell a part 2 coming.
–KIM OSORIO
This chick is black and Italian She is not white. I am black and Italian. Does that make me white? Hell no. I would have still been a slave and have been racially profiled and prejudged just like any other black person. Black folks stop casting out your own. This is why we biracial people go through turmoil as kids.
Sexy…
What woman in her right mind would want to be with Kanye? Hip Hop has run its corse and is going down like the Black heavy weight in boxing.
Felicia, Cmon don’t be haten you just wish you could be called White. Just think one day you all could pop a pill and your hair could be beautiful blond, or your skin will be able to lighten like Micheal Jacksons,
Well celebrity “LOVE”, isn’t always love. She’s gotta admit that one reason
dat she’s with him is cuz he’s a rapper and famous. I dont think she’d go out with him if she saw Kanye out in the streets all poor without any cash. And i didn’t know that Kanye like bald ladies…..KANYE, let me introduce you to my bald grandma!!!!!!
I really could care less who these rappers date…. because we already no why there with them in the first place.
I think that Kanye West is just proving that he can do whatever he wants to do and have pretty much whatever kind of women he wants, simple.
i guess i would have to see if she performed well, consistantly. I dont know who she is and she seems ordinary. I rather hear about Rihanna. I saw a good story about her at chrisbrownsupport.com Support his music and speak out against domestic violence!
Great work as always Ms. O, basically these girls should take all that attention and flip it into something. Get while the getting is hot and oh yea follow back my new twitter name fam.
Now she a total arm candy that hust what to get attention from people that why she with KANYE WEST yall have to remeber that she is a video girl she propably meet kanye west in a video . THOSE VIDEO GIRL DON’T WANT to be love just money men and mansion she going to live kanye in just a few weeks when she settle in her 10 bedroom house and 5 diffenert cars out side then kanye wset going to look like a idoit not just a idoit but a dumb one
http://www.madrapvideos.com – for more of those sweet video girls.
Straight up arm candy 4real
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Nature of the beast, call of the wild, you name it, Money and fame will always attract those who do not have it and want it.
I think it is a new trend for right now. You think about it, other halves of rappers been on the back burner a long time. If they are not married, then its just another sucker getting licked; if married, it can benefit you and yours with less problems because you are accomplishing things together to maintain economically for your family.
Ok get real!!! You must be kiddin…Kanye’z and any other celebz lifestyle is flooded with vixens for the picking. Amber is hot and good to go on the arm for time but like amber she will burn out. And on to the next flamy fling!
AND BY THE WAY ? CAREZ
Well Im African-american mixed with cherokee and native american. None of us are 100% black…. So I don’t see why yall are making a big deal about who hes dating.
I would say it’s only natural that when a celebrity is in the lime light living a single (not married) life and dating different beautiful women, of course the woman may become a source of new attention. Everybody is looking….duh, it’s on TV. That’s the price you pay for fame when you get it….. people wanna know what you doing?, who you’re dating?, how much money you make?, Who’s that girl ___ is with…you know how it goes.
Who cares! And U know what as matter of fact a lot of dark skin guys and girls are really wack! Why? Cause u don’t love yourself! stop being mad cause you don’t feel excepted! They didn’t bring nobody from the mother land to feel excepted anyway! That wasn’t the plan so get over it and get a life! Stop feedin into the nonsense! And donate to my charity it’s ” I am trying to get a record deal, until then donate to my cause!”