U.N.I.T.Y: 10 Female MCs Who Changed The Rap Game In One Way Or Another (Who’s Your Favorite?)
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Before there was Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks, Lil Mama, Remy Ma, Rye Rye or Kid Sister…before there were iPods, wireless Internet or digital music stores…there was the golden age of hip-hop; where female rappers such as Yo-Yo, Lady of Rage, Roxanne Shante, Da Brat, Mia X and Jean Grae were a mainstay on the scene-always delivering enthusiasm, originality and wisdom in a verse. They rapped persuasively apart, and also came together to make masterful collaborations (ex. Ladies Night and Ladies First). Of course, none of this is to say that present day female artists aren’t throwing down in the studio, but that back-in-the-day, raw talent and frill-less music videos could go a long way, especially when you already have the qualifying skills to be regarded as a true rap/hip-hop legend.
QUEEN LATIFAH
Queen Latifah is inarguably one of the most highly regarded female emcees of all time. She had a powerful, even flow that made audiences want to stop and listen. In her heyday, she produced energetic songs that were socially and politically conscious, often dwelling on gender issues and street violence. She gave us classics like “U.N.I.T.Y,” “Just Another Day,” “Ladies First,” and “Come Into My House”.
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MONIE LOVE
London-born lyricist Monie Love brought personality and flavor when she showed up on the U.S. hip-hop scene in the late ’80s. Love is the first British rapper to be signed and distributed internationally. She gained commercial success when teaming up with Latifah for the Grammy Award winning megahit, “Ladies First.” In addition, she released classics such as “Monie In The Middle,” “It’s A Shame,” and “Down To Earth.”
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MISSY ELLIOTT
Supa Dupa Fly, herself, began her career in a humble way–writing lyrics for a six-year-old Raven-Symoné on her debut single, “That’s What Girls Are Made Of,” and giving uncredited songwriting contributions to Jodeci. Elliott’s debut lead single “The Rain” began an avalanche of success for the rapper. Proceeding to release hit after hit: “All n My Grill,” “Hot Boyz,” “Get Your Freak On,” “4 My People,” “One Minute Man,” and a number of others.
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SALT-N-PEPA
The dynamic trio, and reigning queens of “pushin’ it real good” made hip-hop history by being one of the first all-female hip-hop crews. They began their career with the moderately successful album Hot, Cool & Vicious, which contained their first hit single, “Push It.” The provocative group followed that hit with many others, including “Do You Want Me,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man.” During the height of their career they earned a Grammy for their single “None of Your Business.”
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MC LYTE
MC Lyte came out of the box swinging with a battle rap called “10% Dis,” which was aimed at rapper Antoinette. Her unbridled, uncensored style is what brought a large audience’s attention to the talented rapper. She later produced “Paper Thin,” “Ruffneck,” “Cha Cha Cha,” “Poor Georgie,” “Lyte as a Rock,” “Cold Rock a Party” and more.
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EVE
Eve (of Destruction) came on the scene under Dr.Dre, but found her audience after collaborating with DMX and The Ruff Ryders on her first single. Her first album produced singles such as “Gotta Man” and “Love Is Blind.” She followed those with the releases of “Who’s That Girl”, and a Grammy Award winning collaboration with Gwen Stefani on the song “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” After a long series of guest appearances, Eve came out with another album, with featured the singles “Tambourine” and “Give It to You.”
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LIL’ KIM
Kim’s debut album, Hard Core, featured her wearing a leopard print two-piece, knees wide apart. She quickly showed that she was not afraid to bare it all, a fact that was reiterated in hit singles like “No Time” and “Crush on You.” Back before she was beefing with the Nicki Minajs, she was united with other talented female MCs for the “Not Tonight” remix, which featured fellow rappers Missy Elliott, Angie Martinez, Da Brat and Left Eye. “Lady Marmalade,” “Jump Off,” and “Lighters Up” are other success that the rapper has under her belt.
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FOXY BROWN
At 17 years old, Brown’s appearances in songs for LL Cool J, Toni Braxton, Case and Jay-Z led to a label bidding war, won by Def Jam Records. Her debut album Ill Na Na featured the hit singles, “Get Me Home” and “I’ll Be.” Brown’s second move was in the direction of collaborations, forming and then disbanding the hip-hop supergroup, The Firm, which released only one studio album, The Album. Other booming hits Brown released were “Hot Spot,” “Oh Yeah,” “I Can’t” and “Blow My Whistle.”
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LAURYN HILL
Source: naturalurbankiidd.tumblr.com“Ready or Not,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and “Killing Me Softly” were huge and Grammy Award winning songs (except for the latter) that were spawned by The Fugees before Hill branched off on her own, creating her one and only –yet, powerfully successful studio album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album included the singles “To Zion,” “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Everything is Everything,” and “Ex-Factor,” which earned Hill five Grammy Awards for, including Album of the Year. Hill, alone, proved that quality, not quantity, makes a great emcee.
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TRINA
Da Baddest B**ch, epithet and debut album title, gained a great deal of attention due to the album’s second single, “Pull Over.” Prior to the release of her debut album, Trina caught the attention of rapper Trick Daddy with her rhymes, who then approached her to be featured on one of his songs (“Nann”). Her second studio album yielded three singles “Told Ya’ll,” “No Panties,” and “B R Right.” Talk about ushering a new era of female rappers from the south that exude sex. Since, she’s generated hits like “Don’t Trip,” “Here We Go,” “Single Again,” and “I Got a Thang For You.”
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