When Queen Latifah & Monie Love dropped the anthem "Ladies First" in 1989, they were making a political feminist statement; demanding respect for women everywhere and solidifying their position as equals in the male dominated Hip Hop industry.
Now 23 years later it is indeed women who are the leading ladies of the game, stealing the show in Hip Hop & beyond (RIP Ms Melodie who appeared in LF video).
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Love & Hip Hop
Former Violator Records President, Mona Scott Young, brought us the drama of the women in rap, and no, not the female MCs. Instead she shined a light on the women who hold down male rap artists: the girlfriends, the managers, and even the mothers. We all fell in love & sometimes hate with the original NYC cast -Chrissy, Emily, Olivia, Yandy, and the scene stealer, Nancy aka Mama Jones.
Although the ATL version is a bit far-fetched (more soap opera /comedy than reality), the show has got us all making a TV date on Mondays at 8. We tune in - on time, to laugh out loud, shake our heads, and simultaneously take to facebook and twitter to offer online commentary.
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Single Ladies
We fell in love with Latifah's acting skills with her role as Cleo in Set it Off. Since then she has successfully conquered many other roles, proving that she is a multi-dimensional entertainer and entrepreneur. This time the raptress put her producer hat on and gave us Single Ladies. The show's recipe serves up Sex and the City with a side Girlfriends and the fans eat it up. The storylines, the fashion, and the cast chemistry garnered an adoring audience after just a few episodes. Keisha's sass, Val's class and April's innocence definitely filled a void in primetime programming.*****************************************************************
And yes, we were all a bit concerned when Stacy Dash exited stage left, unsure of how they could recreate that chemistry between the fly trio of friends that we had just gotten used to. However, Denise Vasi's character Raquel has definitely helped maintain the drama and the fun.
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Azealia Banks
The hottest cocky and lyrical rapper from Harlem isn't A$AP Rocky. But rather his female competitor, Azealia Banks. Banks made a name for herself mostly in the UK, getting no airplay in the states. Upset by the lack of recognition she began taking verbal jabs at the current queen, Nicky Minaj. She was also vocal about not being chosen for XXL magazine Freshman cover, going for the jugular of another femcee, with an oddly similar name- Iggy Azelia. Bank's beef is that in her opinion, the white rapper was picked not for her talent but solely because she is TI's artist. Despite her ish talking, Banks backs it with major talent. Her mix of fast rhyming and singing over synchopated-techno dance beats makes her stand apart from the rest.
The video for her latest single "Licquorice" is a cinematic banger; drawing inspiration from Tarrintino's "Kill Bill." Banks plays the ebony cowgirl, rapping proudly about her chocolate skin and her uncompromising sexuality:
I'm the liquorice Bitch/You know I'm looking for these niggas if these niggas is rich...These bitches know I be on that Black Girl Shit
That Black Girl Pin-Up with that Black Girl dip
Pick out your mans and attack real quick
I'ma hit em with that venom, that rap girl hip..
Slip out the denims, you know that Black girl fit,
Get that Remy in and did and hit that Black girl switch...
Bitches better tan for the summer, and for the haters
Quit that chit chat, and get ya paper... (Loves Her!!!)
From Underground to being Fashion's latest "It Girl", Azealia Banks proves that being authentic is worth its weight in gold and she is taking it straight to the bank.
