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Back when female emcees could sustain a rap career,
we saw MC Lyte, Da Brat, Queen Pen, Missy Elliott and Lauren Hill jump on the mic
to spit lyrical venom without squatting in a thong…”
Whether we agree or not, many fans are buzzing that Nicki Minaj has put female emcees back on the map. This is because, in the last eight years, nightclubs, radio and even the fan’s car stereo and headphone had not been playing female artists unless it was an old-school throwback or a new R&B heartthrob?
Call it what you want, but we all know Hip Hop is a “grab ya balls” and the rap game. Meaning, one cannot come off venerated. In this genre, one has to be aggressive, inventive or very persistent to get past the first base of the world of rap. Yes, we had seen veteran female emcees, Queen Latifah and Monie Love, set the pace with “Ladies First.”
Those were the days when female emcees cared more about the beat and rhyme…”
Back when female emcees could sustain a rap career, we saw MC Lyte, Da Brat, Queen Pen, Missy Elliott and Lauren Hill jump on the mic to spit lyrical venom without squatting in a thong. No cleavage, no see-through dresses, no skin tight or spandex, no thigh-high leather boots and of course the weave rocked back then, but they were subtle.
Females didn’t have to dazzle fans with sex appeal for them to notice their talent. No long acrylic nails, neither the glamorous makeup. Those were the days when female emcees cared more about the beat and rhyme, so they showed up in baggy jeans and cornrows or button up blouses because their verses were dope.
…the gorgeous “Ill Na Na” rapper wielded a butt jiggling catwalk in conjunction with her dope rhymes…”
Then the stakes got higher. An emcee by the name of Foxy Brown stepped to the mic. She did not only bring dope lyrics, but she also spat choruses that had crowds reciting them. But she stirred away from the boyish looks of her predecessors. Abandoning baggy overalls and cornrows, she sported sexier apparels that brought her sexual attention.
Foxy occasionally allowed a seductive thigh to slip out of the slit on her see-through dress. Or when wearing leather spandex, the gorgeous “Ill Na Na” rapper wielded a butt jiggling catwalk in conjunction with her dope rhymes that fans yelled back while waving their hands to the groove. Her style was unique since the sexy yet ruthless female gangster image had never been exploited in Hip Hop before this time.
To make things even more exciting for Hip Hop loyalists, Lil Kim also spat some of the hardest lyrical bars by any female in that era!”
Alas, The Notorious BIG gave us his ride or die “Queen Bee” from Brooklyn, Lil Kim. If hell was dark, it was about to get hotter because, opened blouse, cleavage teasing was here. Kim took it further with a stooped down pose in a thong. After fans saw that, they were through with the button up, cornrow pigtails or baggy overall female look.
To make things even more exciting for Hip Hop loyalists, Lil Kim also spat some of the hardest lyrical bars by any female in that era! Her famous squat in that $20, 000 fur coat and leopard print lingerie became her trademark poster. Her smoking hot appeal put the “Hard Core” Junior Mafia on top of every female emcee. Crowds chanted “Big Mama Thing” or the resounding “Crush On You” which featured the “Big Papa” himself.
Thus, the era of a sizzling “first lady” officially dawned upon the planet of Hip Hop. If one were going to forge a clique’, they knew to bring in a sexy “first lady.” Yes, Hip Hop can be a “through ya middle finger in the air” kind of scene. And since Hip Hop men often use slang like, “bitch,” “slut” and “hoe” in derogatory ways, you would wonder how a half-naked girl with acrylic nails and high heels, who kicks ass, could ever remain a star without teasing fans with her sex appeal?
Yet again, if you stepped out of line to the wrong “first lady,” if you’re lucky, you could walk away with only a bump on your head, a sprained arm, a black eye, fat lips or a tender anus.
…you would wonder how a half naked girl with acrylic nails and high heels… could ever remain a star without teasing fans with her sex appeal?”
And so here we are, while one group of female emcees are grabbing their crotch and running away like an Amish sister fleeing the advance of a perverted peeping Tom; others have figured out the best way to play centerfold in a male-dominated industry without going too far over the line.
E.V.E. is one of those female emcees who plays the midfield. Though her incredible talent speaks for itself, she has shown up in sexy lingerie and exposed a pair of paws tattooed on her chest. For the most part, her booty revealing is kept marginal. E.V.E. did not exploit her sexuality beyond the reasonable expectation. The Ruff Ryder “first lady” gave off just enough sexiness to keep the pervs looking but left it up to her music to shed light on her talent and character.
If pretty is beauty on the outside and witty is her talents within
then her colored wigs, tattoos, sexy lingerie and of course, the booty jiggling catwalk
are her statements of endearment.
We also have a “No Panties” emcee from Slip-N-Slide Records who hit the scene as the “Baddest Chick.” Her sex appeal has been sprinkled with glitter as the “Million Dollar Girl” got famous almost instantly. The difference with her is, even though she stripped for the camera, she also spat some severe bars as well.
She proved that a girl can flaunt her beauty and sex appeal without it being a gimmick to hide a lack of talent. She is witty and pretty at the same time. If pretty is beauty on the outside and witty is her talent then her colored wigs, tattoos, sexy lingerie and of course, the booty jiggling catwalk are her statements of endearment.
We might complain about the sexual exploitation of women in the industry, but I can bet you that if a girl showed up in baggy jeans, with a button-up shirt and a bandana, we might ignore her even if her rhymes are flier than Lauren Hill’.
Before Nicki Minaj, these female emcees were all but forgotten. In the last four years, less had been heard from Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. E.VE was nowhere to be heard from, only Trina and Missy Elliott were out there struggling to swim with industry sharks. And both were often gone almost as quickly as they had arrived with their new single or album.
And at this time, men were singing now, with auto-tune and dancing to techno while dominating the charts. Everyone was speculative about the state of female emcees since all of the newer female emcees who were selected as “first ladies” of various rap groups were abruptly dropped from the label. One can guess that they were probably reluctant to drop down and get their eagle on.
Before Nicki Minaj female emcees were all but forgotten… less had been heard from Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. E.VE was nowhere to be heard from…”
That was until this Trinidadian-American signed to Young Money Entertainment. Her hard grinding on the streets with following releases, “Playtime Is Over,” “Sucka Free” and “Beam Me Up Scotty” had paid off. Upon the release of her debut album, “Pink Friday” Nicki Minaj single-handedly brought back the glamor that Trina once enjoyed.
She added a bit of Foxy’s grit to Lil Kim’s boldness. Before you knew it, every 90’s female emcee was re-energized. Those who had dispersed for almost fifteen years could not help but covet the limelight as Nicki grabbed attention. With no other female rapper out on center stage, Nicki Minaj had a clear lane. Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and E.V.E. began clearing their throats for a comeback, but Missy Elliott and Trina could not be that far behind. Who knows what newcomer is warming up on the sidelines? *
Who is your favorite female artist?
I see a lot of interesting posts on your blog. You have to spend a lot of time writing, I’m really attracted to you. Do you have a woman? I have a crush on you!
What you think about the new Lil Kim dis?