[Solaris]

They're right. Prior to Kim, the women of hip hop didn't stand out drastically from the men. MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, Queen Latifah, even Missy - they weren't fashion or sex icons, they were just rappers.

Kim completely changed that. Kim invented the female rapper as we know it. Nicki, Azealia and Iggy were all very obviously influenced by Kim. When all of the mainstream artists in your field still draw from you more than ten years after your peak, you are extremely influential.

If there's one thing I wish you guys wouldn't do, it's downplay Kim's impact. It's really incredible how she revolutionized the industry.

[slw84]

Originally posted by Solaris

They're right. Prior to Kim, the women of hip hop didn't stand out drastically from the men. MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, Queen Latifah, even Missy - they weren't fashion or sex icons, they were just rappers.

Kim completely changed that. Kim invented the female rapper as we know it. Nicki, Azealia and Iggy were all very obviously influenced by Kim. When all of the mainstream artists in your field still draw from you more than ten years after your peak, you are extremely influential.

If there's one thing I wish you guys wouldn't do, it's downplay Kim's impact. It's really incredible how she revolutionized the industry.

True. People don't do their research

[IsidoraMarí]

Y'all are on here saying Lauryn = Missy...

Lauryn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kim>>>>>>>>>>Missy

[KangBey]

Don't forget Foxy Brown!

[Cap10Planet]

Originally posted by Solaris

They're right. Prior to Kim, the women of hip hop didn't stand out drastically from the men. MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, Queen Latifah, even Missy - they weren't fashion or sex icons, they were just rappers.

Kim completely changed that. Kim invented the female rapper as we know it. Nicki, Azealia and Iggy were all very obviously influenced by Kim. When all of the mainstream artists in your field still draw from you more than ten years after your peak, you are extremely influential.

If there's one thing I wish you guys wouldn't do, it's downplay Kim's impact. It's really incredible how she revolutionized the industry.

I would definitely say that Salt-N-Pepa were fashion and sex icons. "Push It," "Let's Talk About Sex," "None of Your Business," and "Whatta Man" + colorful attire and crazy-styled hair set the precedent to artists such as Lil Kim. But other than that, I agree.

[Neonika]

Missy is more influential but Kim is high on the list too so she really didn't lie.

[Notorious K.E.N]

Originally posted by Bang Up

Putting Nicki in with these girls. Nicki wouldn't exist without Kim.

And Nicki is only "big" because of pop music.

Nicki is one out of three artists ever to have 4 out of the top 10 hip hop songs ever. The only female to do this. She is huge in both pop and hip hop/rap and thats why she is more influential than kim

[Rogue]

Originally posted by Solaris

They're right. Prior to Kim, the women of hip hop didn't stand out drastically from the men. MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, Queen Latifah, even Missy - they weren't fashion or sex icons, they were just rappers.

Kim completely changed that. Kim invented the female rapper as we know it. Nicki, Azealia and Iggy were all very obviously influenced by Kim. When all of the mainstream artists in your field still draw from you more than ten years after your peak, you are extremely influential.

If there's one thing I wish you guys wouldn't do, it's downplay Kim's impact. It's really incredible how she revolutionized the industry.

Foxy helped too.

[Rogue]

Originally posted by Notorious K.E.N

Nicki is one out of three artists ever to have 4 out of the top 10 hip hop songs ever. The only female to do this. She is huge in both pop and hip hop/rap and thats why she is more influential than kim

There's more than charts but congrats to her. Keep it cute.

[yogosans14]

Originally posted by Rogue

There's more than charts but congrats to her. Keep it cute.

Not this coming from you of all people

[CannibalMonster]

Mess @ some of you down playing Kim's impact. Take off the stan glasses girls.

[Rogue]

Originally posted by yogosans14

Not this coming from you of all people

Stay on topic please!

[Jennifer]

Nicki will probably go down as the "most successful female rapper" but she's not nearly as influential as Kim nor is her material half as memorable.

[Solaris]

Originally posted by CannibalMonster

Mess @ some of you down playing Kim's impact. Take off the stan glasses girls.

Seriously, I've been known to stan Nicki and nothing makes me angrier than when barbz downplay Kim. Do you not understand that we would not have our fave if it weren't for her?

And this underscores one of my bigger issues— people who support Nicki Minaj, but not women in hip hop. Tearing down other female rappers runs so counter to what Nicki stands for. We should be happy to celebrate the accomplishments of other women in hip hop, past present and future. If that makes you insecure, in other words if you feel the urge to insult other women to make Nicki look better by comparison, then you're losing sight of the big picture.

[Solaris]

Originally posted by Jennifer

Nicki will probably go down as the "most successful female rapper" but she's not nearly as influential as Kim nor is her material half as memorable.

We don't know what impact Nicki will have, or how she'll measure up to Kim. We knew Kim was influential, but we didn't know exactly how influential until female rappers made a resurgence in 2010/2011 and were still emulating her.

[JLO_FeEN]

Originally posted by Jennifer

Nicki will probably go down as the "most successful female rapper" but she's not nearly as influential as Kim nor is her material half as memorable.

Thank you.

The Barbz argument is dumb. If Kimmy never came into the game Miss Minaj would not be here at all. She would not had anyone to emulate.

Nicki Minaj has been the only successful female rapper post digital era. It's no brainer she's sold more records (though album sales are sinking). But success does not equal influence or impact. Besides chart positions, she has had no impact in Female Rap still to date. There has not been 1 iconic female rap track from Nicki Minaj.

When the girl has the type of impact that Kimmy has had in the Rap/Hip-Hop community or genre then these Barbz/Ken/Cabbage Patch dolls can have some say about influential rappers. Until then they should continue praising the original as they should.

[slw84]

Originally posted by Jennifer

Nicki will probably go down as the "most successful female rapper" but she's not nearly as influential as Kim nor is her material half as memorable.

True.

As someone that supported Salt n pepa, missy, foxy, eve, lil kim, nicki, iggy etc.

I have to say that lil kim had the biggest movement for her time and her music actually was great then and listening to it now it still sounds excellent.

Her delivery, her ability to tell a story, her ability to create a great body of work.

Even someone like Missy who is far from the best lyricist new how to consistently create a great body ofwork and I really think the 90s female rappers had it.

Nowadays people are calling (not just rap in general r&b/pop) good songs classics and albums heavily influenced by multiple people classic albums.

Back then you could be influenced but you really have to stamp your own swag on it.

Timbaland made a great point about back in the day you had to be a star and had to have it. Nowadays it doesn't take much.

[slw84]

that said, as I supported all of these females, I have to say

if someone can have 10 amazing songs and have 6 remembered and another can have 60 songs but only a handful are remembered then it proves quality over quantity.

that's in any genre.

I'm glad that i still have Lauryn, kim, missy's material on deck because you can just tell the difference between artistry and being an entity and other stuff.

I honestly think in all genres that it's going to just get worse in terms of quality and influence and artistry.

Bless all that made a career for themselves...they are all successful in their own right but I have to say that I truly underestimated both Kim and Missy when they are in their prime

Still bop to em

[iaintiffin]

No lies spotted.

Kim lay down the blueprint that bitches still be studying 20 years later #QUEEN

[iaintiffin]

Originally posted by Solaris

They're right. Prior to Kim, the women of hip hop didn't stand out drastically from the men. MC Lyte, Salt N Peppa, Queen Latifah, even Missy - they weren't fashion or sex icons, they were just rappers.

Kim completely changed that. Kim invented the female rapper as we know it. Nicki, Azealia and Iggy were all very obviously influenced by Kim. When all of the mainstream artists in your field still draw from you more than ten years after your peak, you are extremely influential.

If there's one thing I wish you guys wouldn't do, it's downplay Kim's impact. It's really incredible how she revolutionized the industry.

I love a Barb with sense.