Jay-Z has enlisted veteran female emcee Lil Kim to become the first lady of Roc Nation. Lil Kim recently signed a recording contract with Roc Nation and Jay-Z will serve as the executive producer for her first project.
Although Lil Kim has had a relatively successful career in hip-hop, most female rappers aren’t taken seriously or able to gain a major fan base. Here are several reasons female rappers fail before making considerable strides in music. –a.r.
Oversexed – Salt-N-Pepa were the first female rappers to push the envelope when it comes to sex in hip-hop. However, Lil Kim took female sexuality to another level with her debut album Hard Core. Other female rappers such as Foxy Brown, Trina, Jackie-O, Khia and Nicki Manaj followed Lil Kim’s lead by taking on the persona of nymphomaniacs. The oversexed female emcee has essentially become an overused gimmick.
Lack of Femininity – In the early 1990s, a slew of femcees attempted to gain the respect by proving that they could be as hard as the boys on the block. Although Nikki D, Boss and MC Lyte caused a few fans to take notice with their mean mugs and baggy clothes, being hard-nosed and unattractive didn’t equate to major record sales for most female rappers.
Lack of Identity – Because most female rappers are introduced by male-dominated crews, they are rarely in control of their own image and sound. Besides Lauyrn Hill, Queen Latifah and Eve, few female rappers have been able to develop their own voice and connect to fans without compromising themselves.
Lack of Artistry – When female rappers feel obligated to present themselves as sexpots or rugged emcees, their music usually becomes predictable and uninspiring. Until female rappers find a way to balance sexiness with streetwise lyrics, i.e., Lauryn Hill or Eve, they will remain unequal to their male counterparts in hip-hop.
