LADIES FIRST: The Rise of Black & White Female Rappers

Move over Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dog, female rappers are taking over! These artists are proving that hip-hop isn’t a boys’ club anymore!!

The way i see it is that black feminism started in 1989 when Queen Latifah came out with a song called "Ladies First" , and opened the music video for this powerful track with fierce black women who impacted history and became feminist icons. Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis, were some of the few that brought an intense amount of appreciation to what female rappers can do. Hip Hop culture- which includes not just rap but also graffiti, spoken word, urban fiction and humor is defined largely by a black male sensibility. However, these artists are diverse, live in different parts of the world, come from different backgrounds, and shockingly to most, include women who have shaped hip-hop history from its inception.

Think about it! Women were not just eye candy and sex objects they were part of the scene back in the 70's and made their impact as Dj's and emcees. The most significant was the work that Sylivia Robinson achieved. She became the co-founder of Sugar Hill Records, and had its first commerical hit, "Rappers Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.

THE FEMALE BADMAN-THE BAD-WOMAN: The role of the badman in black folk culture descended from slavery, has been widely embraced in hip hop identity. The badman has become the bad-woman in hip hop culture.

The women in Hip-Hop  don’t try to be the men, they don’t take on the masculine persona, the female rapper is still feminine because she is a woman. Even-though she speaks the same vulgar, and extremely "unladylike like"  language, her presence still screams "femininity" and her anthem is stronger than ever because she dosn't need a man to help her express herself.  

Hip-hop is no longer male -dominated. With superstars like Nicki Minaj blowing up in hip-hop, it’s inevitable that other female MC’s will start getting their due. These five artists prove that girls run the hip-hop world.

1. Azealia Banks
The Harlem rapper has created quite a buzz on the music scene. Her first single “212” is a fun and risqué single that has been viewed 17 million times on YouTube.

2. Santigold
Santigold isn’t a traditional hip-hop artist, but her music is definitely inspired by the genre. Her songs, “ Unstoppable’’ and “ Shove It’’ ,  have been sampled by Drake and Jay-Z.  Santigold’s first album was critically acclaimed and her recently released album, Master of My Make Believe mixes hip-hop with reggae,

3. Rye Rye
This Baltimore rapper is the protégé of M.I.A., but is finally stepping out on her own.  Rye Rye’s debut album Go! Pop! Bang! captures her energy and is a great “Baltimore club record’’, as she described the album.

4. Brianna Perry
Brianna Perry is a new rapper on the scene, but already has famous fans like the Queen of Pop, Beyonce, and megastar Flo Rida.  Perry’s breakout single, “Marilyn Monroe’’, is not only influenced by the legendary actress.  Her flow may remind listeners of her hip-hop idol, Missy Elliott, with bouncing beats and playful bragging about her style.

5. Nyemiah Supreme
This Queens rapper doesn’t need to wear colorful wigs or show cleavage to get attention- her rhymes alone should do the job.  Nyemiah Supreme recalls the no-nonsense female rappers of the 90’s and 2000’s like Eve or MC Lyte.

link to these artists and more information: http://www.bcouleur.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=671:ladies-first-the-rise-of-the-black-female-rapper&catid=73:music&Itemid=414