{mosimage}Our newest writer Mich Boogie writes about being a female in the industry – REAL TALK!
For as long as I can remember, I've never been the "girlie girl". I'm not concerned with gossip, latest dress fashion, MAC makeup, or whatever else girls these days do. My main loves have always been writing, sports (Panthers, get your act together!), and of course, hip hop. Funny thing is, I'm shunned for it. Not for the sports and writing, but for being an actual hip hop fan. I've had people come up to me at concerts, shows, showcases, giving me funny looks as if I didn't belong. It's the same look as "What's this bitch doing at a REAL hip hop show? Doesn't she have the new J. Holiday album to check out?" It's an exaggeration but you get what I'm saying. From my point of view, it's hard being a hip hop fan while being a female. Female fans in the eyes of others can only be two things: 1. a groupie looking to get instant infamy or 2. The girlfriend of a real hip hop fan that got dragged alone. But I'm not going to say, I haven't seen it. I've seen a fair amount of groupies, both female AND male and I've also seen the bored girlfriends dragged alone. However, that doesn't mean we are all like that. Some females actually love hip hop and probably could bury any other man in knowledge. Can I include myself in this group? I think so and if you don't. We can always discuss it.
So, where is the place of women in hip hop? Well, when I flip on the TV, we can either be video vixens or the over sexual female rapper. Nobody wants to hear you talk about the Golden Age of Hip Hop, just go out there and shake your ass for the camera. Nobody cares if you wrote a song about poverty in the country, rap about your head skills and how you can snatch any bitch's man. It's what sells. But for it to sell, you have to give up dignity and of course, your clothes.
Whatever happened to when women were actually treated like peers in the hip hop community? The days where Salt N Pepa rapped about sex without being considered hoes or when Queen Latifah and Monie Love were all about ladies being first? Or when a female could be rough and tough with her Afro Puffs © Lady of Rage without being considered some angry ass lesbian? Female rappers did not have to be overly sexual to get radio spins, because all that mattered were skills. By the time the 90s were coming to an end, female rappers seem to be fading, well the ones with respect for their selves were. Besides for exceptions like Missy Elliott, Da Brat, and Lauryn Hill, female rappers were taking we they had to get what they want (Player's Club reference, just a lil bit). Lil' Kim came in with the bra all see-through, Foxy Brown had the ill-na-na and well women went from peers to "them hoes that rap".
Now, that's not to say, there were some women who were still rapping about a real message or that there were no female rappers with skills, you just didn't hear about them. But thankfully, I was given the gift of realizing real music when I hear it. Shoutouts to Jean Grae, Mystic, Lady Luck, Missy Elliott, Shsytie, Baby Blu, and especially Lauryn Hill for showing that women can be just as lethal on a mic as the next male rapper. I'm sure I'm missing out on other female rappers and I apologize. I can only write so many for right now.
Females need to reclaim their status in females, whether you are a rapper or just a fan. Being a girl doesn't mean you don't know shit about MF Doom or you can't be anticipating the Saigon album (yes,hurry up Sai Giddy!!) Hip Hop holds no barriers, so don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't listen to. Not all females were feeling Khia's dumb ass and not all females are groupies. I've seen dude groupies aka dickriders, they are much worse. Hip Hop is my life and it's not a bitch. Like Aesop Rock said:
"Life's not a bitch life is a beautiful woman
Your only call her a bitch because she won't let you get that
pussy
Maybe she didn't feel y'all shared any similar interests
or maybe you're just an asshole who couldn't sweet talk the
princess"
Mich Boogie drops some hip hop knowledge – be sure to add her to your friend list
