"Oohhh!! Ladies first."

In a genre of misogynistic material female lyricist are a dime a dozen. A good 95% of songs don't portray women in a positive light. Mostly referring them as B_ and Ho's. Black Sheep's first Album Wolf in Sheep's clothing made fun by saying "Ho is short for Honey. We just got lazy and dropped the 'neys' like when you drop to your knees" (wink, wink)
Even Kanye West's goody-two-shoes image takes a stab at the "gold-diggers". Queen Latifah tried to denounce it and bring "U-N-I-T-Y". BWP (B_ with Problems) took it to left extreme level by creating songs like "Two minute Brother". Artists like Trina, Jacki-o, Khia, Lil Kim and Foxy Brown put the sexuality to mask the actual talent. Missy and Remy Ma just calls themselves B_tch outright. Even Eve's title "pitbull in a skirt" sugar coats it.

It is quite possible that efforts are made to control or prevent but the powers that be have my people acting like fools. It is heard and said so often that it is added to the venacular. Other women calling their friends names that a dude would get slapped for. My peoples "Fight the Power!!" said by Public enemy. (BTW I was in the march for the video. I help a Marcus Garvey sign.) I would talk about the N-bomb but that's a topic for another day.

Whew !! I digress. A few ladies got in the game, made some paper and bounced. Longevity is very unlikely. Salt-n-Pepa held the longest reign and sold more records than Big Daddy Kane's entire discography. The secret was to create music to empower women and also create good tunes that made you dance. That's how Eve captivated her audience with the tune "Love is Blind" featuring faith Evans but had clubs Harlem Shaking to "Who's that Girl".

There were a lot of Women that had skills. My all-time favorite is L-Boogie aka Ms. Hill of the Fugees (pre-breakdown). MC Lyte who had the prowess to crush most male artists in her era. Lady of Rage who was a beast on the "Doggystyle" album. Not much of a fan of Bahamedia but Jean Grae is the truth. I think Rah Digga was phenomenal until she stopped releasing material. As a matter of fact, she is the best artist in her crew Flipmode, including her mentor Busta Rhymes. I was never feeling Remy Ma until I saw her lyrically disintegrate Lady luck and her career. Monie Love and Queen Latifah were the AfroCentric goddesses."Ladies First" (Monie Love lives across the street from me. I just found out.)

I think it is nice to see these ladies do big things like get movie deals, television shows and endorsements but you can't abandon the vehicle that brought you there. And I am not saying to ride it to the wheels fall off but at least show some respect.

Ladies in the industry show your skill. You have to go hard and be as good or better than your male counterparts.
Look out for Jean Grae-last of a dying breed.
Shout to Flo-Brown u had me at the Black Lily at Wetlands. but you have been MIA since you left the Okayplayers.