"Being meek isn't for me": Indonesian rapper Ramengvrl talks about gender and hip-hop

Putri Estiani knows how difficult it is for female musicians in Indonesia to make their mark. Under her moniker, Ramengvrl, the 29-year-old rapper has battled stereotypes and criticism since her debut in 2016.

"Some people didn't really take me seriously — either because I'm a female, or because I don't do [traditional] rap," she says. "They think it's not real rap, or I'm a gimmick, or manufactured."

She says there's a visible 'double standard' in Indonesia when it comes to male and female rappers in the country: She's received criticism for having 'vulgar' lyrics in her songs, while male artistes get a free pass.

Themes in Ramengvrl's music include drugs, money, and sex — all prosaic ingredients of the genre — but also deal with issues like the struggles she's overcome and challenging archaic gender stereotypes. On her 2019 track Bad Minah, Ramengvrl raps: "I been hungry all my life now I been eating... Came in the scene, f--- what you think/Been underdog but now I'm a queen."

"Indonesia is a very conservative country," she says. "I don't think there are a lot of songs from Indonesia that encourage women to feel like a boss. A lot of them are usually about heartbreaks, loving a dude, all of that... It's cute, but who wants to be that all the time? You think Indonesian girls don't want to be a boss too?"

And she wants to make sure that other women get that chance to express themselves, too. Ramengvrl is part of Porsche's latest virtual festival, Scopes. The festival aims to bring together a community of creatives in Southeast Asia — especially women — to provide them with a platform to discuss important topics and exchange stories.

Below, Ramengvrl tells us why she thinks it's important for female artistes to continue "breaking barriers" — not just for their own fame, but also to pave the way for others to come.

How did you connect with Porsche for Scopes?

During the initial stages, the Porsche team reached out to me to share more about SCOPES, and I was really intrigued by the vision behind the virtual festival, which is to bring together a community of creative individuals who are shaping the future in Southeast Asia. When I heard about the other female artists in Asia who are also in this journey together, I was like, let’s do it!

Every creative starts somewhere, me included. When I first started, I literally didn’t know anybody in the creative industry, let alone in music. But I owe it to the social platforms I had back then that helped propel my music career, so I know how important it is for up-and-coming artists and creatives to have a platform — like SCOPES — that can help showcase your brilliant work out there to the rest of the world, that would otherwise not see the light of day.

What was it that made you want to be a rapper in the first place? 

Well, first of all, I was fed up with the 9-to-5 life. But I also found myself somehow always going back to music. It’s not just the routine that isn’t for me, it’s the fact that I had a HUGE urge to express myself, to bash the norms like I see every day in the office and in normal society. Being meek just isn’t for me. And rap to me is like the exact opposite of that. We can create this world where one song is filled with packed bars, giving us the freedom of expression that is very empowering. That world to me was insanely attractive (I mean, now too). And so, I quit that life and “restart” a new one, where I’m even being paid to be myself.

 What sorts of issues did you face early in your rapping career?

Some people didn’t really take me seriously. Either because I’m a female, or because I don’t do that ‘rappity rap’ rap — you know what I mean? They think it’s mumble, or it’s not real rap, or I’m not gonna go far, I’m a gimmick or manufactured –  which I find very funny. It didn’t really get to me though.

What’s frustrating, is how narrow people’s understanding of rap is—like they always want you to do a funny freestyle, or the double standard—like they’d sweat at the fact that I have these “words” in my lyrics and call it “vulgar”, when they didn’t say anything to male peers that do the same.

Gender is a big theme in your music; like 'I'm Da Man', for example. Why’s that?

Honestly? No hidden agenda there. I just do me, and I’ve always just wanted that even from the first demo I made. I just feel like seeing the male rappers here, whom a lot I respect, I’ve always felt I can be on the same level as them, or even higher. Like I’m not gonna lie or be humble about it, it’s part of bringing the culture forward too and breaking barriers, right? So, I was like, “Yeah sure this hip hop thing is a male-dominated world, but I’m still the man here, y’all.”

Apparently people also took it as a message for gender equality and women empowerment too, which is dope. I don’t think there’s a lot of songs from Indonesia that encourages women to feel like a boss—a lot of them are usually about heartbreaks, loving a dude, all of that, which is cute, but hey. who wants to be that all the time — you think Indonesian girls don’t wanna be a boss too?

My music is first and foremost for my self-expression, but I realized it can also be a fuel for women (or any other, really) to feel empowered.

You've come a long way since your debut single in 2016. Looking back on your journey, what would you say has changed?

I’m more confident in exploring different genres and breaking barriers. In fact, I’m never a huge fan of “genres”, like putting music in boxes is just so… 2010 to me. I’m brave enough to be even more melodic now, or even to use a lot of effects on my voice (which, trust me, big deal in Indonesia. It’s like it’s a first-degree crime to have even slight autotune on your vocals), or to go sad and not litty all the time.

I guess before I was really into proving myself, like hey, it’s me, a nerdy lookin’ girl (still had the braces back then) who can rap fast and not afraid to talk my sh-- like a man! But now that I’m more tapped into my story, I just don’t really care about being called like “real hip hop” or “she raps good” — like who cares about that? I just wanna make good music... But you know, occasional bangers are a must.

Many times, your gender is referenced as a big part of your identity — Indonesia's popular female rapper, and so on. Does that focus on your gender bother you?

Pigeonholing, yes. Bothers me, not really. I’m a relaxed person when it comes to that: In fact, I would try to think of it in a more positive light as often as I can. Like, if that sort of thing actually puts me in more spotlight, I don’t mind. My real fans know my quality, they can tell if I’m the same or better or worse than the male peers. And by the way, does that even really matter? Saying someone is better or worse in music despite the gender? I don’t think so.

That’s also what I love so much about what Porsche is doing with SCOPES. It is all about breaking out of cultural norms to pursue one’s dreams and passions, and I love seeing all the creative and innovative work featured on the platform.