By Jamil Weeks

Female rappers have never had it easy in the male dominated music industry. The disrespect they receive is partially because of the perception they do not write their own rhymes, despite ghostwriting being prevalent amongst all rappers since hip hop’s inception. Also, in the past, male gatekeepers have had controls of their career choices, from style to fashion. This kind of distorted intuition is why they were seen as inferior to the male counterparts and not taken seriously, despite having successful rap acts like Salt N Pepa, Queen Latifah, and MC Lyte. As hip hop gradually began to expand its reach, more female rappers began to surface. In the 90s, Lil Kim became a pioneer in taking control of her own sexuality and turning the tables on her male peers in rap. With her explicit brand of lyricism from a woman’s perspective, she would become the blueprint for a lot of today’s mainstream female rappers. You also had the success of Lauryn Hill, who was the antithesis of artists like Lil Kim and Foxy Brown. In the mainstream, this variety in styles between the two rappers provided balance. Fast forward to the present, and some of the most successful hip hop artists are women. Even though women are beginning to dominate rap on the charts, the scrutiny of the messaging and imagery have taken center stage in hip hop related debates.

Anyone who follows hip-hop know how much criticism female rappers face daily on various social media platforms. The highly sexualized imagery and lyrics of today’s mainstream female rappers have been met with sharp resistance from those who feel these types of artists are poisoning our youth, particularly young girls, with negativity in their music. I get it, because you want the youth to be raised with certain standards. In addition to the audience, you also must consider people in the music industry who are pushing this particular brand of hip hop and why. Personally, I feel any artist should be able to make whatever type of art they wish, as long as it’s coming from their heart. Nobody should be able to decide what music people should or should not consume. I do, however, take issue with people that complain about certain artists, such as Sexy Redd, Sukihana, Ice Spice, Meg the Stallion, etc., but ignore the female rap artists who consistently drop quality music. Why focus so much time and energy on what you do not like and not promote the artists you feel have true talent? Since I have a platform, I figure I would highlight some of these emcees that everyone who claims to love hip hop should know.

7xvethegenius, Buffalo NY

Hailing from one of the poorest cities in America is one special emcee whose music provides a glimmer of hope despite the harsh surroundings of her hometown. 7xvethegenius is a ferocious emcee, with a smooth flow that fits snuggly on any beat she blesses. Her music is a blend of neo-soul and contemporary hip hop with an old school spirit. Signed to Conway the Machine’s Drumwork label, she brings a more artistic, positive influence on her music that distinguishes her from the grimier reputation that the Buffalo rap scene is known for by rap aficionados. As her name suggests, love is a common theme in her music, from her debut (7xve is Love) and her follow-ups (Self 7xve, and Self Lxve 2). All it would take would be one of her famous freestyles, whether it be from Shade 45 or On the Radar Radio, to inspire hip hop heads to go digging through her catalogue like DJ Premier digging through vinyl at the local mom and pop record store. 7xve dropped the Genius Tape with DJ Green Lantern this year showing no signs of slowing down. Keep your eye out for 7xvethegenius as her star will only shine brighter in the coming years.

Che Noir, Buffalo, NY

Buffalo boasts another incredible lyricist contributing to the culture with Che Noir. Che has been on records with some of today’s most incredible emcees, such as Ransom and 38 Spesh, and held her own. In my opinion, she is arguably a top five current emcee. Not only is she gifted with the bars, but she also is a conceptual artist and talented producer. You can hear the influence of Nas in her music with her storytelling and introspective bars. Known for having a variety of styles, Che grips the listener either by being direct in her approach on a song or by being abstract in her subject matter. Boasting a razor-sharp flow that would make members of the Wu-Tang grin with glee, she brings a nostalgia in her music that those who grew up on 90s rap can appreciate. Putting in work for years, the highlight of her career was the underground classic, As God Intended, produced by the brilliant but underrated Apollo Brown. Che also released stellar follow-ups like the self-produced After 12 and the underground favorite Food For Thought. Che will continue to break new ground showing female rappers can get in the mud with the fellas too while still being a lady.

Rapsody, Snow Hill, NC

Rapsody is probably the most well-known of the four artists mentioned. Under the tutelage of 9th Wonder and the Soul Council, she has slowly begun to creep onto the radar as one of today’s most gifted wordsmiths. Working alongside such incredible lyricists as Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, and J. Cole, she has been able to show the fellas she is no pushover when it comes to the mic devices. Rapsody’s style is a beautiful blend of soul, R&B, and hip hop that gains the attention of mainstream audiences while keeping the underground fed. You can hear the Lauryn Hill influence infused in her music, with her complex style of wordplay and metaphors. From NC State to Roc Nation, the Grammy’s nominated artist has risen to prominence by drawing on her own personal experiences in life to paint pictures that inspire others. While most rappers are vocal about money being their sole motivation for embarking on a career in rap, Rapsody has insisted that she does it for the love of the culture. Such a claim is backed up by the music she creates and is a reason why she continues to work alongside some of the biggest artists in the industry. One of her most noteworthy releases includes her Roc Nation debut with Laila’s Wisdom, as well as her follow-up album, Eve. Her career shows no signs of slowing down as she recently released her latest single, “Asteroids”, produced by the versatile Hit Boy. In the next five years, it will be interesting to see what heights she reaches. Word to Snow Hill.

Sa-Roc, Washington, DC

Last, but not least, is the rose that grew from the concrete of Southeast DC. The socially conscious, Sa-Roc, whose stage name pays homage to hip hop pioneer, Sha-Rock, brings a more esoteric approach to her music. Penning poignant rhymes, her music is highly expressive and seemingly meant as more of a vehicle for change. Infusing activism in her music, her music draws similarities with poetic genius Gil Scott Heron. A career spanning 15 years, Sa-Roc has gradually gained more notoriety amongst her peers as she is considered one of the most important voices in hip hop. Her powerful stage presence has placed on stages with legendary emcees such as Common, De La Soul, and Rakim. The Goddess of rap is known for her blazing delivery as much as her elevated style of lyricism. Whether she is on stage or in the booth, she delivers commanding performances that leave a lasting impression on you long after the song has ended. The Sharecropper’s Daughter, her Rhymesayers label debut, is a highly recommended project that gives you a glimpse into her influences and upbringing while exploring themes of overcoming trauma. Other notable releases include albums like Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar, which display her prolific brand of artistic articulation. For those rap fans desperately seeking music from more creative minds, look no further than the poetical and intellectual Sa-Roc.

Rather it’s a feature, freestyle, song, album, or show, the musical output from these talented ladies will shatter your perception of the female rapper. I selected each one of these artists because they can get on a record with ANY male artist and arguably have the better verse. Their ability to convey their emotional pain on wax and turn it into beautiful art is the reason their music should be pushed to the forefront of hip-hop. These women have been a part of the hip hop scene for years and are just now starting to gain the recognition they deserve. Beyond the deviation from the typical hip hop subject matter (sex and money), their ability to be relatable is the common thread these artists all share. These four emcees can transform how female rappers are viewed since all four consistently rap like the rent and utilities are due with every verse. If you have grown tired of artists like Cardi B or Coi Leray, my hope is that the energy you put into tearing those artists down you use to run the numbers up on artists like the women highlighted in this article. For those that appreciate artistry blended with lyricism, support them by pulling up your favorite streaming service and listening to what these young ladies have to say.