Hip-hop and rap are some of the most popular genres of music today. What role did female artists play in the form’s rich history?
“Uncovering Unsung Sheroes: A Discussion of Women in Hip-Hop,” a June 24 session of the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, shone a light on these artists and the challenges they faced while building their careers.
The panel included Tamela Chambers, manager of the Chicago Public Library’s Beverly branch; S. Michele Echols, reference librarian at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and school media specialist for New York City Public Schools; and Tatanisha “Tiki” Love, library media specialist in Baltimore County Public Schools.
The speakers charted a timeline of female rappers, from pioneers like MC Sha-Rock, MC Debbie D, and Lisa Lee; to groundbreaking artists like Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah; to present-day stars like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.
“Contemporary women in hip-hop know how to appeal to masses of people around the globe,” Love said, “with music that will make you move and videos that will show, and prove, their wonder, power, and glory–and that hip-hop should not be dismissed.”
Women in hip-hop were not always celebrated. “Women were depicted as crazy if they were difficult, if they went against the male, dominant role,” Echols said. “It was whatever the male record producers wanted them to do, they knew that they had to do.”
Echols recalled the case of former rapper Amil, who left the industry for mental health reasons and to take care of her son. At the time, she was also labeled as “difficult.” “She felt like she was not prepared for the industry and that she wasn’t receiving the support in a male-dominated industry,” Echols said.
Chambers discussed the origins of the genre and how race and class played a role in it. “The genre, created by young Black and brown kids, was born from a desire to keep the music going at a time when music was being taken out of school,” she said.
They also talked about Women Behind the Mic: Curators of Pop Culture, Volume One, Word to the Wise by LaJoyce Brookshire and Michelle Joyce. Published in February, the book chronicles the experiences of prominent women in the hip-hop scene. “These are real, personal stories from women who actually worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry,” Echols said.
