They say she rhyme pretty good...FOR A GIRL

It still happens: They leave you off of bills, when they put you on they make you rock first when no one is there, then tell you after that you “rhyme pretty good for a girl.”  They hold shows about injustice and inequality but not ONE WOMAN is on the bill. They forget that we are their mothers, sisters, and daughters. They also forget that we too are FRESH EMCEES.

The struggle for women in hip hop has never been a secret. From its inception till now, women have always had to fight harder,  throw bows stronger, and flow harder to even be looked at or considered. We are put in boxes of conscious, cute, or sexy and forced to play a role: The righteous sister (Lauryn Hill), the scandalous (Lil Kim), the cute and clever (Lady bug mecca) and in the process not only do they take the focus off of our amazing lyricism, they deny all parts of ourselves...and in some cases cause us to do it too.

Sorry but I am SICK of Lauryn Hill as the be all to end all of “good women in hip hop.”  Especially when you have so many amazing women out there such as your Tiye Phoenix, Masia one’s, and Eternias straight KILLIN IT in EVERY AREA. Not only skilled in lyricism but talking to us about the ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL OF OUR LIVES and the LIVES OF WOMEN.

I have been rockin mics for a little over 12 years. I have had to cuss heads out for leaving me off the bill, fight my way to the stage, and make them remember that it was a WOMAN who gave them birth for them to even be there. Now as women are left out of hip hop and not considered, our communities crumble- how can no one MAKE THAT CONNECTION?

Hip Hop is morphic as I have said in the past. My second passion is that I am a scholar and I studied the connection between hip hop, its message, and the state of the community. Come on yall- It was REAGAN cutting art programs and Robert Moses PLOWING THROUGH THOUSANDS OF HOMES in the GHETTOS OF NEW YORK THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THIS ART FORM. You see people needed to let the system know “Don’t Push Me- I AM CLOSE TO THE EDGE.” Check your history. Hip Hop will always tell the story of what is going on with the country and its people. Just take some time to listen.

And should this be the case- what is hip hop telling us now? As less women’s voices are heard or forced to become Nicki Minaj what are we doing to our women, youth, and how are we affected by these images. As more men degrade who we are, refuse or forget to give us play, and force us into their boxes-what are we doing to our community? We are one, men and women. The Yin and the Yang. There is nothing that you do to me that you do not do to yourself.

But there is light and partnerships forming. People like Chuck D, MC Lyte, Andrew Woods, myself and others are bringing attention to the lack of women in hip hop and doing their thing to get out the following message (as I said in one of my tracks) “Until I’m Healed- no moves can be made.”  Scholars such as Joan Morgan, Gwendolyn Pough, and Tricia Rose are taking this fight to the streets as well as academia with a vengeance. Plus women such as Tiye Phoenix, B-mor 7, Tiger Lily (of Riders Against the storm), Queen yonasda, Da Empress, and Emerald Stone are letting us know that we have many dimensions to us and our voice MUST be heard.

So the next time that you hear or witness that moment- that moment where you or someone you know stops a woman from grabbing that mic or tells her that “she rhymes pretty good for a girl” let them know this: She just a tight emcee and you could probly learn somethin’ from her.

Keepin in mind the she movement,
5th

This is a "Letter to Lil Wayne" Looong needed...Tho I can do without the Steve Harvey reference and Lauryn Hill still being the "go To" for women in hip hop when there are so many such as Tiye Phoenix, Queen Yonasda, and Artists like myself (5th Elmament) out there...THey still killed it!