Rashid Kay Questions Gender Categories In Music Awards: “Why Not Just Best Artist?”
Rashid Kay Questions Gender Categories In Music Awards: “Why Not Just Best Artist?” Rashid Kay has sparked a thought-provoking conversation about the classification of artists in music awards, challenging the necessity of gender-specific categories such as Best Male and Best Female Artist.
Taking to X, Rashid’s statement raises essential questions about equality and the criteria used to evaluate artistic merit in a medium that transcends physicality and gender. The veteran rapper argued that gender doesn’t give anyone any advantage of being a superior artist alluding that music is not a contact sport.
“Music is not a physical sport or contact sport, gender doesn’t give anyone any advantage of being a superior artist. Now why do we have Best Male and Best Female instead of just Best Artist?” Wrote Rashid Kay.
The veteran rapper’s assertion hinges on the premise that music is an art form where talent, creativity, and impact are not determined by gender. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of how we recognize and celebrate artists, advocating for a unified category that recognizes excellence without the constraints of gender.
Proponents of maintaining gender categories often cite the historical underrepresentation of female artists in major awards. However, Rashid’s viewpoint suggests that addressing this imbalance through segregation may not be the most effective solution. Instead, creating an environment that celebrates all artists equally could lead to a more significant impact on diversity within the industry.
Rashid Kay is on the organizing committee for the SA Hip Hop Awards, which features separate categories for female and male artists. It will be intriguing to see if the awards eventually decide to combine both genders into a single category.
