When the history of Hip Hop is explored in documentaries and other media, the women who helped pioneer the genre are often excluded from these conversations. Braggadocious lyrics about violence, sex, swagger, and masculinity reign in a space where women, in most cases, are cast as their conquests and their own stories largely ignored.
The truth is some of the most important figures in Hip Hop are women. They played a major role in laying down the foundation for the genre since day one.
To celebrate International Women’s History Month, this article shines a light on some of the most integral women in Hip Hop throughout history. It concludes by providing Canadian and international resources for you to get involved and show support for women who are making a positive difference every day.
The idea for the block party that started Hip Hop came from a woman
It is widely regarded that Hip Hop was born on August 11th, 1973 in the Bronx, New York. A back-to-school party in the recreation room of DJ Kool Herc’s apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue kick-started the culture.
Many music fans and historians credit Herc (real name Clive Campbell) as the Father of Hip Hop, but the truth is he only focused on DJing and setting the party vibes. Someone else came up with the idea and promoted the party itself. That someone was Herc’s younger sister, Cindy Campbell.
Deemed as the First Lady of Hip Hop, Cindy created handwritten flyers and produced all the parties around that time, making her the first promoter of Hip Hop. To cut costs, she hired her brother to DJ these events.
"I promoted the whole thing. I got the cards, I put Herc's name on there. He was just interested in playing his music," Cindy remembers. She charged 25 cents for the entrance fee and made about three hundred dollars that night, a far cry from Hip Hop’s multi-billion-dollar industry today.
To see how Hip Hop is deeply embedded in Black History, check out the article, “Celebrating Black History Month Through Hip Hop.”
Meet the Mercedes Ladies: Hip Hop’s first female rap group
Fast forward three years to 1976, when a group of young girls – Sheri Sher, RD Smiley, Tracy T, Eve-a-Def, Zena-Z, DJ La Spank, and Baby D – were hanging outside of a corner store, watching Grandmaster Flash and other emcees rap battle each other for supremacy. While there were women around these gatherings, they were merely just entourage and none of them stepped into the circle to participate. These girls wanted to be the change they wanted to see. Hence, the Mercedes Ladies was born – Hip Hop’s first all-female crew.
"We started as just a social crew," says DJ RD Smiley. "We hung out, had meetings, went to jams together, and wore shirts with our names on them. We later became a crew of DJs and MCs.”
"In 1978, we became the first all-female Hip-Hop crew," Baby D explains. "We carried our own crates of records, connected our own equipment, and even climbed the fence at 63 Park to plug the system in at our first jam. We did all of this with no help from the men."
They remembered how the men around them wanted them to fail at first. But once they heard them perform, they changed their tone. Trevor, their manager, was impressed with how good they were. “He watched us, and he saw that we were really getting good. We weren't there trying to get boyfriends — we were watching, learning, and trying to get better."
The first commercial Hip Hop song was produced by a woman
Most people credit Russell Simmons and Def Jam as being Hip Hop’s first music label. However, Sylvia Robinson and her husband, Joe, actually produced the first Hip Hop song.
In 1979, they created Sugar Hill Records, a record label that specialized in Hip Hop music. Named after “Sugar Hill,” an affluent black neighbourhood in Harlem, NY, Sylvia was enamoured by Hip Hop after hearing an emcee by the name of Lovebug Starski rapping over the breakdown of “Good Times” by Chic in a nightclub.
Inspired, she instructed her son, Joey, to go around New Jersey looking for guys who were interested in recording a song. She had a vision. With Grandmaster Kaz writing the lyrics and the “Good Times” beat in mind, Sylvia wanted to re-create the magic she experienced at that nightclub.
Joey came back with three young men – Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright, Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson, and Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien. This was the formation of the Sugarhill Gang and the song they recorded was “Rapper’s Delight.”
Rappers Delight was the first ever commercial Hip Hop song – five years before Def Jam was formed.
Sha-Rock is Hip Hop’s first female solo artist
B-girl turned emcee, Sha-Rock, is regarded as the first known female rapper on vinyl, influencing future female emcees for years to come.
Within the Hip Hop community, she is rightfully celebrated as the “Mother of the Mic.” As a member of the Funky 4 + 1 (with her being the plus 1), they were the first Hip Hop crew to appear on television, performing on Saturday Night Live on the February 14th, 1981 episode.
The exposure from her vinyl records and television appearance spawned an explosion of new female emcees to enter the scene.
Shout out these notable female pioneers
There are so many female artists, emcees, and producers who helped build the Hip Hop culture in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Here are a few notable artists that deserve special mention:
Sha-Rock may have been the first female rapper on vinyl, but MC Lyte was the first to record a full-length album. “Lyte As a Rock” was recorded in 1988, when she was only 17. Five years later, MC Lyte was nominated for a Grammy with her hit single, "Ruffneck."
Queen Latifah was only one of two women to be part of the Native Tongues, a collective of emcees in the late 80’s and early 90’s known for their positive-minded, good-natured Afrocentric lyrics, and use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats. While De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest were the standouts of the collective, Queen Latifah used this platform to address issues affecting Black women.
Songs like “Ladies First” and “UNITY” discussed domestic violence, street harassment, and the need for coalition-building between females before anyone else, making the New Jersey native a powerful voice for change.
The other woman in the Native Tongues was Monie Love, a British rapper who collaborated with Queen Latifah after the Native Tongues had travelled to the UK. She added to the collective by challenging stereotypes with her clever lyrics.
Roxanne Shanté began rapping at the age of 9, displaying an almost inherent knack for rhyme schemes and flow patterns. This talent earned her acceptance into the Juice Crew, which included Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, and Kool G Rap. This was a crew known for their diss tracks and engaged in numerous beefs. Roxanne Shanté held her own in a male-dominated culture, evolving into a mentor for generations of female MCs and an early advocate in rap for female empowerment. Though she retired at 25, she remains one of the best female rappers to ever do it.
Lastly, shout outs to Salt-N-Pepa, the all-female group that pioneered a sex-positive revolution and advocated feminism. With instant classics such as, “Push It”, “Let’s Talk About Sex”, and “Shoop,” they were frank and outspoken about their desires and their sexuality, while simultaneously demanding respect, preaching feminist values and speaking out against assault and discrimination.
Salt-N-Pepa was also a commercial success. “Push It” specifically, is a 1987 banger that is one of the most recognized Hip Hop songs of all time. It is in the top 500 of Rolling Stones’ greatest songs of all time and ranked number 9 in VH1’s 100 greatest songs of Hip Hop.
93 ‘til infinity: Women’s edition
Thanks to the aforementioned female Hip Hop pioneers, the 90’s brought a new generation of artists who brought a unique flavour and sound to the scene.
Foxy Brown is one of the most distinctive females of the 90’s who embraced sexuality while demanding respect. She entered the scene at 15 years old and along with Lil’ Kim, was frank and outspoken about her sexuality while still commanding – and demanding – respect.
Draped in lace and lingerie, Lil’ Kim embraced the feminine sexual aesthetic of the stereotypical “video vixen” while challenging the masculine swagger stereotype and empowering herself.
From the moment she stepped on the scene, Lauryn Hill was immediately hailed as a star. As one-third of “The Fugees,” they were a commercial success with 1994’s “Blunted on Reality” and 1996’s “The Score.” It was only a matter of time when Hill went solo with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
Hill delved deep into the complications of womanhood, motherhood, Black femininity, and the music business. Hits like “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Everything Is Everything,” “Lost Ones” and “Ex-Factor” still sound as fresh and compelling today as they did at the time of their release. Hill hasn’t released an album since then but remains one of the best female rappers of all time.
Missy Elliott’s innovative visuals and sonic style changed the game. Collaborating with the likes of Jodeci, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah, it was Missy’s debut album, “Supa Dupa Fly” that catapulted her into the spotlight. Produced by childhood friend and long-time collaborator, Timbaland, songs like “The Rain,” “Get Ur Freak On,” and “Lose Control” were instant radio hits. Missy added a visual pizazz and comedy into her music videos, a stark contrast to the newer commercial female rappers who were scantily dressed and hypersexualized.
The 2000’s and Beyond
While the days of conscious rap for social change are less prevalent, the turn of the millennium has seen more female Hip Hop artists than ever before. Eve, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Trina, and Rah Digga held it down in the early 2000s while artists such as Nick Minaj, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion continue to lead the female Hip Hop movement during the social media era.
In a male-dominated industry, women have been an integral part of Hip Hop culture since day 1. Whether it is to shine a light for social change or to celebrate their successes through rhyme, they have worked hard on their skills and optimized their platform, with no signs of slowing down.
Let International Women’s History Month be a reminder to appreciate the journey female artists have endured to be on par with other male artists. It doesn’t have to be Hip Hop music – just put on your favourite female musical artist, past or present, in the car or while you’re at work. You can also show support by watching female-led movies, poetry, art, and books. By making a conscious decision to support women in art, you are telling them you see them, you respect them and want these queens to thrive.
Here are other sources for you to get involved during International Women’s History Month:
International Women’s Day is on March 8th, 2024. This year’s theme is #inspireinclusion. Check out internationalwomensday.com to see what events are happening and what resources are available to celebrate women all over the world.
To learn about the history of International Women’s History Month, you can jump to Wikipedia where they explain where and when it began, as well as the themes every year since 1987.
While Canada celebrates Women’s History Month in October, you can celebrate women any time all year round. The Government of Canada has a website dedicated to recognizing Canadian women’s history and achievements throughout the years.
Finally, go to Pulse Studios where you can sign up for many amazing dance classes taught by some of the best women Hip Hop dance teachers Calgary has to offer!
