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Over
the years, the Grammy’s has grown to represent the pinnacle of
achievement and recognition in the career of artists worldwide.
Although it has gradually embraced hip-hop by introducing new
categories to incorporate the ever-growing genre, female rappers have
by and large been left out of the equation. Since the category of Best
Female Hip-Hop Artist was abruptly discontinued in 2004 there has been
a virtual extinction of female rappers with widespread appeal and a
noticeable absence of female emcees from mainstream media altogether.
While many argue that
the Grammys are too mainstream to recognize real hip-hop anyway, others
view the elimination of the Female Hip-Hop category as the beginning of
the end for female emcees. The days of artists like Lauryn Hill and
Missy Elliot topping the hip-hop charts seem to be a distant memory.
Lil’ Kim, Remy Ma, Da Brat and Foxy Brown have all been plagued with
career-damaging litigation and rappers like Trina and Shawnna have yet
to find a supportive label home. Recognizing the decline of the female
rapper is easy, but identifying the reasons behind their declining
sales and exposure is a more difficult task.
In a recent interview rapper and songstress, Amanda Diva, weighed in on
the challenges that women face in the industry and possible reasons for
their absence in the game. According to her, the problems are two-fold.
“First, female rappers haven’t reached the peak of their
potential due to a token state of mind,” she says. “There’s this
feeling that there’s only enough room in the game for one of us. There
isn’t the sense of autonomy necessary for longevity as a solo artist.”
A quick survey of collabos, or lack thereof, by female rappers in
recent years further confirms this hypothesis. She adds, “Secondly,
most female rappers either have excellent MC’s writing rhymes for them
which has helped them succeed or they have been co-signed by the illest
in the game. It seems like behind each successful female rapper, there
has to be a man and his click to verify her legitimacy as an emcee.”
So what will it take for the re-emergence of the female emcee? Quite
possibly: A self-assured lyricist with relevant content (sans the hyper
sexual image) and a music industry ready to support her re-introduction
and continued presence in a business that’s male dominated. Or quite
frankly: A miracle. ~Reese Harlan
