Mami (hip-hop)

In hip hop music, the term mami refers to an attractive Latina woman, typically of Puerto Rican or Dominican descent.

[3] The mami shares qualities with the hyper-sexualized black woman, but her skin color and hair type put her in a higher position in the Eurocentric desired hierarchy.

The dictionary maintained by the Academy of Puerto Rican Spanish (Academia Puertorriqueña de la Lengua Española) states that the term is used to refer to one's mother, one's girlfriend or concubine, a beautiful woman, or even to a young girl.

[2] Within hip hop, women who are involved are portrayed as objects or only as good as how they work the sexual aspect of their identity, both of which lead to hyper-sexualization.

[6] In regards to Latinas in the hip hop community, the objectification of body parts through song lyrics, such as referring to a woman's "chocha", or vagina or vulva or pussy in "It's All About the Benjamins" by Puff Daddy,[7] as well as the focus on the butt of Latinas, as referenced in "The Motto" by Drake[8] has been a part of exposing mainstream media to the mami figure in hip hop.

While Martinez transgresses different categories across Latina and Black representations of women in rap,[2] she is credited to be the original butta pecan mami.

Twin singing duo Nina Sky also fits under the category of mami, in their appearance[2] and in how they are represented through music collaborations, such as with artist N.O.R.E.

[3] As her career progressed and she entered the music industry, there was a focus on her figure that was notable in her songs (Ex: "On the Floor", "Booty", "Dance Again").