I think the problem today is, everytime a new female rapper emerges, she's instantly put against other female rappers. The whole "there can only be one hot female rapper at a time".
While back in the day, they could coexist.
its not that they could coexist its that they CHOSE to coexist and dispel the misogyny, nicki minaj has been the only notable female rapper over the past few years and she chooses to stand alone and work with pop stars, etc. She has no interest in working alongside other women in rap music because she stands too tall without them.
Rap has become less accepting of different styles and messages, so females find it harder to fit in. Back in the 90's and early 00's, there were many female rappers, but (almost) none of them clashed. Most of them were different. Kim and Foxy were the sexy, sassy ones, Missy was the quirky girl, Eve was the crossover sensation, Da Brat was the tomboy, Lauryn was the conscious one... I'm over simplifying it probably, but you get the point
Now, the rap game can basically be narrowed down into 3 categories : conscious rap (Kendrick, Cole), commercial rap (everyone who raps about money, weed and hoes), hipster rap (Chance, Gambino, Anderson.Paak). So, it's more difficult to find a niche. Azealia could have occupied the latter, but she's her own worst enemy. Nicki occupies the commercial lane and if another girl did it, there'd be comparisons. Now, for conscious rap, Angel Haze and Jean Grae tried, but nobody paid attention. Conscious rap has always been a male dominated lane I guess...
Maybe if the right girl comes along, it will all change.
It maybe was in cultural impact but it was a perfect showcase/example how all these females just coexisted.
These ladies were fresh and did not do under for their male counterparts imo.
Rap has become less accepting of different styles and messages, so females find it harder to fit in. Back in the 90's and early 00's, there were many female rappers, but (almost) none of them clashed. Most of them were different. Kim and Foxy were the sexy, sassy ones, Missy was the quirky girl, Eve was the crossover sensation, Da Brat was the tomboy, Lauryn was the conscious one... I'm over simplifying it probably, but you get the point
Now, the rap game can basically be narrowed down into 3 categories : conscious rap (Kendrick, Cole), commercial rap (everyone who raps about money, weed and hoes), hipster rap (Chance, Gambino, Anderson.Paak). So, it's more difficult to find a niche. Azealia could have occupied the latter, but she's her own worst enemy. Nicki occupies the commercial lane and if another girl did it, there'd be comparisons. Now, for conscious rap, Angel Haze and Jean Grae tried, but nobody paid attention. Conscious rap has always been a male dominated lane I guess...
Maybe if the right girl comes along, it will all change.
its not that they could coexist its that they CHOSE to coexist and dispel the misogyny, nicki minaj has been the only notable female rapper over the past few years and she chooses to stand alone and work with pop stars, etc. She has no interest in working alongside other women in rap music because she stands too tall without them.
Rap has become less accepting of different styles and messages, so females find it harder to fit in. Back in the 90's and early 00's, there were many female rappers, but (almost) none of them clashed. Most of them were different. Kim and Foxy were the sexy, sassy ones, Missy was the quirky girl, Eve was the crossover sensation, Da Brat was the tomboy, Lauryn was the conscious one... I'm over simplifying it probably, but you get the point
Now, the rap game can basically be narrowed down into 3 categories : conscious rap (Kendrick, Cole), commercial rap (everyone who raps about money, weed and hoes), hipster rap (Chance, Gambino, Anderson.Paak). So, it's more difficult to find a niche. Azealia could have occupied the latter, but she's her own worst enemy. Nicki occupies the commercial lane and if another girl did it, there'd be comparisons. Now, for conscious rap, Angel Haze and Jean Grae tried, but nobody paid attention. Conscious rap has always been a male dominated lane I guess...
Maybe if the right girl comes along, it will all change.
honestly nicki could have done her part and helped more females come up beside her. instead she shot them down.
the thing about the 90s divas is that they worked together. they united and made plans to release music together and make a point to put more females out there. the same cant be said for todays divas, specifically nicki minaj. shes crafted her fame so that shes the only female out there to be considered queen.
Pre-Nicki, female rap was diverse, exciting, multi-faceted. I'm not going to be needlessly salty, props where they are due etc. But I'm nostalgic af for when the genre was in a better place.
These days, I've always felt like, if they don't incorporate Pop into their music, then people won't really bother to give them the time of day. Those artists listed in the OP came from times when Hip Hip/Rap was truly appreciated and celebrated more than it is now.
Listening to these old tunes I just wonder. We had an era with MC Lyte, Missy, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Lil Kim, Da Brat, Foxy (plus all the girl groups) and all these amazing women rocking it throughout the 90s.
Why are there so little in the main spotlight these days? I'd love to see more talented ladies see mainstream success and have another Ladies Night for example.
Oy, @ most these answers . The biggest female rappers from back then were arguably, Kim, Lauryn, Missy, Eve, Salt N Pep, etc. What did most of them have in common? Most of them got put on by men. Back in the 90's, there used to be a lot of rap cliques. Flip Mode, Rough Riders, the Fugees, Rocafella, Junior Mafia, Wu-Tang, blah, blah, blah. Labels would invest in these whole groups of artists, or an artist would make enough to get his own imprint and put his whole crew on. Often times, they had a lone girl in the crew. Hip-hop is very patriarchal and male dominated, and the best way for a female artist to get put on wass to be co-signed by a prominent male artist or producer (see Missy and Timbaland) . . . Which is not to say that you always had to get put on by some dude to be successful because Queen Latifah, Salt N Peppa, Lyte, Left-Eye, etc became famous without the nod from a successful male artist, but on average, that's how a great many of the female rappers of that era got their shine.
This is in part why Iggy was quite smart to sign with Grand Hustle, and Nicki was wise to sign up with Young Money and come up under Wayne. Not to mention that Grand Hustle and YMCMB really believed in Iggy and Nicki and invested money and time in developing them as acts. I think Def Loaf is really promising. She's respected by men and women alike and is Drake's artist.
Oy, @ most these answers . The biggest female rappers from back then were arguably, Kim, Lauryn, Missy, Eve, Salt N Pep, etc. What did most of them have in common? Most of them got put on by men. Back in the 90's, there used to be a lot of rap cliques. Flip Mode, Rough Riders, the Fugees, Rocafella, Junior Mafia, Wu-Tang, blah, blah, blah. Labels would invest in these whole groups of artists, or an artist would make enough to get his own imprint and put his whole crew on. Often times, they had a lone girl in the crew. Hip-hop is very patriarchal and male dominated, and the best way for a female artist to get put on wass to be co-signed by a prominent male artist or producer (see Missy and Timbaland) . . . Which is not to say that you always had to get put on by some dude to be successful because Queen Latifah, Salt N Peppa, Lyte, Left-Eye, etc became famous without the nod from a successful male artist, but on average, that's how a great many of the female rappers of that era got their shine.
This is in part why Iggy was quite smart to sign with Grand Hustle, and Nicki was wise to sign up with Young Money and come up under Wayne. Not to mention that Grand Hustle and YMCMB really believed in Iggy and Nicki and invested money and time in developing them as acts. I think Def Loaf is really promising. She's respected by men and women alike and is Drake's artist.
I guess there is a lot of truth in here. Kim with Biggie, Foxy with Jay-Z also. So without big male rap artists we won't see many female artists either.
I guess there is a lot of truth in here. Kim with Biggie, Foxy with Jay-Z also. So without big male rap artists we won't see many female artists either.
Another question worth asking is how many women are in positions to sign artists? Are they mostly men? That's also going to impact who gets a record deal.
. The biggest female rappers from back then were arguably, Kim, Lauryn, Missy, Eve, Salt N Pep, etc. What did most of them have in common? Most of them got put on by men. Back in the 90's, there used to be a lot of rap cliques. Flip Mode, Rough Riders, the Fugees, Rocafella, Junior Mafia, Wu-Tang, blah, blah, blah. Labels would invest in these whole groups of artists, or an artist would make enough to get his own imprint and put his whole crew on. Often times, they had a lone girl in the crew. Hip-hop is very patriarchal and male dominated, and the best way for a female artist to get put on wass to be co-signed by a prominent male artist or producer (see Missy and Timbaland) . . . Which is not to say that you always had to get put on by some dude to be successful because Queen Latifah, Salt N Peppa, Lyte, Left-Eye, etc became famous without the nod from a successful male artist, but on average, that's how a great many of the female rappers of that era got their shine.