Nicki Minaj & Other Female Rappers Who Helped Shape Hip Hop

Publish date: 2024-06-12

Forty-two years after its inception, and hip hop remains to be a male-dominated arena. However, rather a couple of women held their own in a field that caters to many males. Some of those women made their mark all whilst being type icons, sex symbols, but other folks of all genders revered their bars. It takes mastery to excel in the hip-hop and rap art forms inside itself because it is greater than speaking over a beat. While "rap" stands for rhythm and poetry, many people can clutch the "poetic" section, but now not necessarily the rhythmic part or vice versa.

RELATED: Fans Call Nicki Minaj, Drake, And Little Wayne’s Collab The Rebirth Of Real Hip Hop

Then, upload this to the truth that many ladies's voices in hip hop seem to go unheard. In 2017, The Guardian coated why rap nonetheless has a gender gap. British rapper Lady Leshurr discussed that men glance out for each other more in hip hop. She additionally famous that colorism is problematic. Let's look at Nicki Minaj and 9 other female rappers who broke thru many boundaries and shaped hip hop.

10 Nicki Minaj Dominated The 2010s

Nicki Minaj's mixtape "Beam Me Up Scotty," which she dropped again in 2009, wasn't to be had on streaming services till May 14th, 2021. "Beam Me Up Scotty" made mixtape historical past being the highest-charting re-released mixtape in rap historical past. Before the discharge, Minaj alluded to something losing on that Friday. Fans wondered and anticipated if her messaged on IG alluded to an album or a documentary or what, proving that individuals will all the time respect Minaj's go back after she takes hiatuses.

Before rappers such as Cardi B, Doja Cat, and Megan the Stallion started hitting the airwaves, it kind of feels as though there wasn't a lot of a market for girls rappers within the 2010s. Minaj principally used to be all you heard at the radio as she took over both pop and hip hop. Minaj has sold 137 million information worldwide and 19 most sensible ten hits.

9 Missy Elliott Made Watching Music Videos An Event

When Missy Elliot drops a track video, fanatics be expecting it to be out of this international. The track video for Missy Elliot's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" continues to be one of the distinctive and avant-garde song videos in general, let on my own coming from the rap genre. Elliot made hip hop a laugh and is understood for her eclectic manufacturing taste relating to hip hop data. In 2019, the VMAs honored her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. One fan appreciated how most of Elliott's songs talked about sexuality and satisfaction, but she didn't use her body to promote her messages. Elliott sold 30 million information worldwide and has nine top ten hits.

8 Queen Latifah Demanded Respect

In the similar style as Missy Elliott, other people didn't dub Queen Latifah as a sex image, however they liked her jazzy method to hip hop. When Latifah first arrived at the hip hop scene, she wore dashikis and asked men, "Who you callin' a b****?" in her 1993 track "U.N.I.T.Y." Fast forward decades later, and it sort of feels as if you can't hear many mainstream hip hop and rap songs with out this word in it. However, Latifah did greater than call out the phrase. She demanded respect as a lady in the hip-hop genre as a complete.

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Then, she transitioned to making shows, movies, and endorsing cosmetics, however genuine hip hop lovers will never put out of your mind her roots as a rapper as someone who lined deep subjects comparable to sexual harassment. She sold 2 million data worldwide.

7 Salt-N-Peppa Preached Feminist Values

Salt-N-Peppa looked as if it would foster the very best mix of sexually driven but aware messages. Their songs "Push It," "Let's Talk About Sex.", "Whatta Man," featuring En Vogue, and "None Of Your Business" empowered women, often in a feminist-like fashion, yet their bars have been hard-hitting sufficient for men to appreciate them. Plus, the songs had been danceable, however Salt-N-Peppa additionally spoke out against discrimination and attack. Salt-N-Peppa sold 15 million records international.

6 Lauryn Hill's Only Solo Studio Album Will Forever Be A Masterpiece

Lauryn Hill is as a lot an R&B singer as she is a rapper. Before Hill embarked on her solo profession, she used to be one-third of the hip hop team the Fugees. In one tune by myself, titled "Doo Wap (That Thang)," she called out absentee fathers, domestic violence, and the risks of being intimate with males who are best about chasing money versus love. In this song, she asked the philosophical query, "How you 'gon win, when you ain't right within?" and told other folks to "come again."

RELATED: Lauryn Hill Reveals Why She Never Made Another Album After ‘The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill’

"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" offered 20 million records international, and folks will ceaselessly love Hill for her socially conscious contributions to hip hop and the vulnerability she delivered to music. Minaj regarded as Hill her idol, bowed when she met Hill and told Hot 97 that it was surreal.

5 MC Lyte Made History

According to Daily Rap Facts, MC Lyte used to be the primary lady rapper to receive a gold single. Her music "Ruffneck" offered over 500,000 copies. Lyte was once additionally the primary woman rapper to release a complete album with 1988's "Lyte as a Rock," which gained certain evaluations and significant acclaims. Lyte was once also the primary hip-hop artist to perform at Carnegie Hall. MC Lyte got here into the rap game at Sixteen years previous and expressed that there wasn't much loyalty and that the older men wanted to dominate this area.

4 Lil' Kim Said What Some Women Wanted To Say, But Didn't

The historical past of ladies in hip hop has a division between two eras, the technology sooner than Lil' Kim and after her. Before Lil' Kim came out, hip-hop had a mindful message that fought against sexism, however Lil' Kim was once all about sex appeal. She wore iconic Dolce & Gabbana models and wasn't afraid to rap as raunchy as many males did. Lil' proved that ladies might be sexy and revered. According to Billboard, Lil' Kim's label didn't perceive her sexy glance, and she or he concept she needed to wear suits like MC Lyte to gain recognize. Worldwide, Lil' Kim has sold greater than 15 albums and 30 million singles.

3 Foxy Brown Also Challenged Hip-Hop's Hypermasculinity

Aliya King, who has written for lots of publications comparable to Vibe, Essence, US Weekly, considered rappers Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown a sexual revolution. They expressed issues that she didn't feel comfy saying aloud. In 2021, persons are still taking into account Foxy Brown's "I'll Be Good" featuring Jay-Z, a timeless monitor. Brown has enough prowess on the song to keep up with Jay-Z, but she wore a brown slinky get dressed and prime heels, proving that talent came in a multitude of packages. As did Nicki Minaj on "Monster," Brown blew her male counterparts out of the water on LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya" remix. At 17, Def Jam signed her, and her debut album "Ill Na Na" went platinum.

2 Roxanne Shanté Recorded One of The First-Ever Diss Tracks

Rappers combat rapped and have been braggadocious on songs about how they had been the most productive rapper ever lived. However, "Roxanne's Revenge" referred to as the rap group UTFO out by means of identify. Roxanne Shanté, who used to be 14, rapped on their beat from the music "Roxanne, Roxanne," the place she called the blokes out for no longer being excellent enough for her. Their authentic observe used to be about any person who rejected their romantic advances. "Roxanne's Revenge" was once a hit, however UTFO released a cease-and-desist order as a result of the pattern used. Shante' recorded a new observe over a brand new beat, and thus the "Roxanne Wars" started.

1 People Consider Sha-Rock The First Female Rapper In History

The hip-hop community considered Sha-Rock, the "Mother of the Mic." Sha-Rock grew up in the South Bronx borough of New York City, the place rap first emerged. She used to be a part of the rap team Funky 4 +1, and you might be right if you happen to guessed that she used to be the "plus one." Jazzy Jeff, one a part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince with Will Smith, used to be also in the staff. They had been the first rap workforce to accomplish on TV and sign a report deal. Sha-Rock was once the one woman on this workforce.

Next: The Most Famous Female Rap Stars, Ranked By How Many Albums They Released

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