When it comes to the world of hip hop, men dominate the game. In a list of the 20 highest earning hip hop artists in 2018 from Esquire, not a single female artist was listed. And when it comes to black female hip hop artists, only a few names come to mind, such as Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. Not a lot of focus is on black female rappers, perhaps because of the culture of hip hop itself, which revolves mainly around drugs, alcohol, and sex. Thus, here are a few black female hip hop artists who are not only incredible musically, but also have songs and albums with messages important for all girls to hear.
Noname
Fatimah Nyeema Warner, otherwise known as ‘Noname’ on stage, is not only a rapper but also a poet. She actually started writing poetry in high school, later competing in many open mics and slam poetry competitions. Her first mixtape,Telefone, debuted in 2016, which is about the struggles of black women and also growing up in the city of Chicago. Her second album, Room 25, was released last year, which was a more personal story of her love life that every girl who has gone through heartbreak can relate to. Overall, Noname is not only a gifted lyricist but also intelligent groundbreaker who has brought a new level of soul into the world of rap.
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill is the underappreciated queen of 90’s hip hop. Originally part of the group ‘The Fugees’, whose album The Score received critical acclaim, Hill later went solo to create the novel album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album was not only influenced by hip hop, but also combined reggae to give it a sound new to the rap world. Hill was also pregnant when she made the album, which made the songs she dedicated to her son, such as ‘To Zion’, even more touching and powerful to women everywhere. If you’ve never listened to Lauryn Hill, I definitely recommend listening to her album to be educated on love, motherhood and being a strong, independent woman.
Jhene Aiko
Part black, part Asian, part Hispanic and even part Native American, Jhene Aiko has an interesting background and history. First starting her musical career as a contributing vocalist, Aiko later climbed up to release her first solo album, Sail Out, a clever twist on the phrase “sell out” after she was told to sell herself in pitch meetings. Her next album Souled Out, which is a personal favorite, follows the same wordplay but is meant to convey the meaning that she is the opposite of a “sellout”, because she was solely focused on being honest and expressing herself. Check out her most recent album as well, Trip, which highlights a personal story of her experience with drugs, enlightenment and music.
Salt-n-Pepa
The members of the hip hop group Salt-n-Pepa are the original Instagram baddies. Their most notable song is the catchy ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’, which was not only a hit but also turned the tables on sex as a taboo topic. Most feminists at the time hated hip hop because it was sexist, but Salt-n-Pepa expressed themselves while also rapping about their true thoughts about men. In their debut album Very Necessary, their message was clear: it’s okay to be sexy, and women can express themselves however they want.
These are only a few black female artists that are changing the hip hop game and its message. All of these women make music that’s great for dancing, driving or even singing along to in the shower. Most importantly, these women make music that’s empowering to females all over the world, inspiring them and letting them know that they’re not alone in their struggles and feelings. This February in celebration of Black History Month, give these artists a listen to learn about their incredible stories and wisdom.