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When you think of the history of the rap genre, some of the first names that come to mind are Tupac, Jay-Z, and Biggie Smalls. But were can’t forget about the ladies. Several female emcees have had a huge impact on what the genre has become today. Here are a few of the female of hip-hop who have broken barriers within the genre.
Lil Kim
Lil Kim is perhaps one of the most influential female artists of all time. When she initially stepped onto the scene, Kim’s lyricism had a very gutter, street style to it. However, when Biggie Smalls convinced her to switch from hardcore rap to a more provocative style, to appease the male gaze, her music really took off. Her sexually liberative, provocative style of rap has become a staple in female rap. And she remains influential in the style of many of today’s femcees including Nicki Minaj, Latto, Cardi B, and others.
Nicki Minaj
Female artists were always an instrumental part of the rap music scene. But when Lil Wayne introduced Nicki Minaj as the first lady of Young Money, it elevated the genre to a different level. Minaj’s elite lyricism and story-telling paralleled the female emcees who came before her such as Foxy Brown and Lil Kim. However, her versatile flow allowed her to step outside of the parameters of hip-hop and work with artists such as Ariana Grande, Usher, and Beyonce, thus bringing the female hip-hop genre mainstream. She has sold over $100 million records globally, making her the highest-selling female artist ever.
Missy Elliot
Famed female emcee, Missy Elliot was known for doing things outside of the ordinary. She pioneered many of the viral trends that some of the top female emcees still use today. From the baggy clothes to the flamboyant hair, to the extravagant dance moves, everything that Missy did was an event. Missy Elliot became really popular for her music videos. Under her creative direction and choreography, Missy was able to curate some of the most memorable music videos of all time including Work It, Get Your Freak On, and Gossip Folks. In 2019 she was rewarded with the MTV Video Vanguard Award, an award given to artists and directors who have had a significant impact on music videos and popular culture.
Lauryn Hill
When you think of the greatest female emcees of all time, Lauryn Hill isn’t necessarily a household name that comes to mind. But trust, her influence on the genre is still being felt today. Lauryn Hill is very much a pioneer for both rap and neo-soul and had a major hand in bringing those genres mainstream. Her 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took home a whopping five awards during the 1999 Grammy award. Some of the top emcees of today including Nicki Minaj and J. Cole, have raved about how they were influenced by the album. She was also one of the first female emcees to appear on the big screen after starring in Sister Act II along with Whoopi Goldberg in 1999.
