Race Jones
gangster. grace. alchemy
Throughout Hip-Hop history, there have been countless women who have helped carry a nascent culture into the mainstream. Not all of them do we know by name – the mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, teachers, and others who encouraged a child to write rhymes, pursue her or his passion for music, dropped her or him off at the studio…the list of integral women is endless. But even those women who picked up a mic themselves and became “firsts” in their respective categories are often forgotten when discussing the greatest MCs of all time. Far and wide, average lists compiling GOATs are absent of any woman’s name whatsoever, despite there being a vast supply of ladies who can not only compete alongside, but also destroy lyrically.
In a new video narrated by Rapsody, Hip heads try to answer the question “why are women excluded from talks about Hip-Hop’s greatest MCs?” It’s not as though female artists haven’t broken sales records or influenced generations to follow in their shoes. So why do ladies always seem to come second? Citing women’s innovative styles and ability to provide Hip-Hop culture with a unique perspective in an industry dominated by men, Rap’ says these MCs are often “tackling issues that inform those very males (and females) about the world, femininity, and themselves.” Nonetheless, rarely do women get their just due. While names like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Jay Z, Tupac, Biggie, and dozens more male MCs become instant contenders for GOAT rankings, names like Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, and Lauryn Hill are usually absent.
In a new video narrated by Rapsody, Hip heads try to answer the question “why are women excluded from talks about Hip-Hop’s greatest MCs?” It’s not as though female artists haven’t broken sales records or influenced generations to follow in their shoes. So why do ladies always seem to come second? Citing women’s innovative styles and ability to provide Hip-Hop culture with a unique perspective in an industry dominated by men, Rap’ says these MCs are often “tackling issues that inform those very males (and females) about the world, femininity, and themselves.” Nonetheless, rarely do women get their just due. While names like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Jay Z, Tupac, Biggie, and dozens more male MCs become instant contenders for GOAT rankings, names like Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, and Lauryn Hill are usually absent.