The New Generation of Femcee's

 

 

During the 1970′s, Title IX helped change the landscape of America culture for women in sports and education. For better or worse, the the law has done more good than bad. However, one aspect of society where its impact hasn’t been felt (and it wasn’t supposed to) is Hip-Hop. Clearly a male-dominated industry, there have been exceptions to the rule such as Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, Remy Ma and Trina. With the decade nearing a close, the face of female rap at the moment happens to be Young Money’s, Nicki Minaj. Her lyrics have garnered her respect, most notably from Lil’ Wayne, in the form of several mixtapes and a group album due out this month, but the argument against her is her look and persona. Ironically, it is female MC’s who have a problem with the way she is portraying herself.

“I don’t do the Barbie thing — that’s her thing,” LoLa Monroe said in an intervew. “I really don’t agree with it, that’s basic. It doesn’t make sense to me because first off, you’re basically saying I’m jacking somebody who has never been known to have their style all throughout their career. She’s never been set to have her own style. It’s always been set to say she’s jacking Lil’ Kim to Foxy [Brown] and now Lil Wayne. So how can I be jacking somebody or using somebody’s style if they never been known to have their own style. That part never made sense.”

“Another thing, it kind of comes from Wayne is in the foundation of my music and what I’ve listened to him for years and years. So you can hear his styles in my music. And you know, that’s her mentor and that’s somebody whom she’s under and so she’s known to sound like Wayne. That’s all they say about her now. I believe the similarities may have come from that but besides that, I have my own style, I have my own lane. She does what she does, ya feel me?” said Monroe.

With Nicki being the most visual, it has garnered negative responses from not only Lola, but Nikki D and Jha Jha as well. Again, the problem lies with sex overshadowing mic presence, something which can be argued in either direction.

“She’s [Minaj] not an MC. She’s an artist. She’s an entertainer. There’s a difference. She can go out there and open her mouth and say whatever but people ain’t listening to her. They looking at her. And rapping is about the skill. It ain’t about your fat ass. It ain’t about your set of titties. It ain’t about that long-ass weave,” said Nikki D in an interview with XXLMag.com.

Looks and sex appeal aside, two underlying issues expose the true issue detailing the lack of estrogen in Hip-Hop. One, apparently, is lack of business knowledge.

“You can’t come into this business thinking you can attack other girls and thinking you’re going to go somewhere. You can’t come into this business thinking it’s all about music. This is a BUSINESS,” said Nicki in an August interview with VladTV.  “I didn’t do this for attention. I did this because I wanted to explore this business and take it to where the guys took it as a businesswoman.”

The second issue happens deal with the fact that while some female artists may have abundant amounts of lyrical skill or marketing prowess, none have managed to capture the artistic balance which the artistic and commercial balance Lauryn Hill, arguably the greatest female MC, encompassed in the late 1990′s. She managed to become a voice for women that men could, in fact, relate to and appreciate. Her music spoke of struggle, good times and perseverance. In essence, it was her soul which allowed her to garner and maintain that same adoration for well over a decade.

Only a few weeks away from the start of a new decade, the future remains cloudy for the forecast of female rap. There is respect with veterans Lil Kim, Trina and Remy Ma (who recently started her own Twitter account…from prison). However, the mainstream identity undoubtedly rests on the shoulders of Nicki Minaj. Until a femcee manages to perfect the L-Boogie blueprint, there will always remain a cloud of doubt. And, the lack of unity has to stop. Part of becoming a respected entity is showing a unified front.