Do women really feel like they can't relate to hip hop? Must she be a tomboy to understand the message? Maybe, I’m coming from a biased point of view, because I just don’t understand how the music that women tend to be fans of is either degrading to us or just plain stupid. Hip Hop has always been more of a male dominated culture. 90’s hip hop was probably the female peak with tracks by De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest that featured female emcees such as Monie Love and Queen Latifah. It was music for the masses. Nowadays, it’s just scarce. 
I’ve attended a lot of hip hop shows since the tender age of 15 and with that said there’s, a note to self, the three kinds of women who attend: The “Groupie.” The “girlfriend that’s dragged on a date.” Then the actual “supporter.” I’ve always had a hard time finding female friends that listened to the same music as me. So, you will never catch me playing my iPod because; my girls just don’t vibe to the music the way I do. I get the usual reaction of, “What is this? Change this, Jessica!” I always tend to go to shows with male friends because of that reason.
The females that are actual supporters are respected or made a big deal because well, we’re rare. I don’t consider myself to be a tomboy. I don’t come from the hood. My parents didn’t grow up on it. I’ve never been in a fight. I was never around drugs, and I’m not trying to be an artist; my singing capabilities are horrid and the only time you will hear rhymes come out my mouth is when a song is on full blast. So, how is it that I can relate to this music? That theory must be lopsided or just doesn’t pertain to me. Don’t get me wrong that real hip hop I listen to can come off as male chauvinistic, “Oh no, he didn’t just say that” line, and the ratio of good to corny songs is slim just like any music genre but, it’s what I’m attracted too. So, why aren’t there more women in the hip hop scene? Are we going extinct before even hitting the mark of over populating hip hop? 
11 comments:
so true! i hate that if you TRULY love hip hop it gives you a stereotype..but us TRUE fans don't even care!! i am hopeful that we will get some women, real hip hop women in the game soon to truly represent! great post!
this was dope to read! i by no means can really rep the hip hop scene, as much as i love going to shows and cyphers...but it translates into every music scene from hipster rock to noisy electroclash. very well-written, keep it up!
This is a dope and relevant post, and one of the main reasons why I reached out to you after encountering your blog. What people forget or tend to not realize that the support of divisive, negative factors in our culture is intentional and well reinforced. A culture simply CANNOT exist without the women who allow it to. Keeping it even more real i DARE a real emcee from our peer group to say Queen Latifah didnt influence them. I contend that her command and authority on the mic may have even influenced the likes of Notorious B.I.G. I could go on for days on this, but i just wanted to say thanks for this post. Shout outs to Liz and Natty and also some of my fave femme fatales, Eagle Nebula, Tavi, Queen Godis, Likwid, At Last, and Kalae Allday.
we DEFINITELY need more women (not groupies) in the scene! great post shout out to Natty S!!!!!
my bizzle is the best writer alive.
Wow, Jess. Interesting topic and well written, if I might add. I was actually thinking about this the other day - especially the aspect regarding having to go to shows with male friends. I'd like to be able to go to a show with my girlfriend; I don't want anyone to miss out on the all-around benefits of hip-hop. At least I know I'll see u there, though. Thanks for the recognition - I really appreciate it. Peace & Love.
dope
Great article, @warrenbritt shot me the link on Twitter since he knows this is a topic I am passionate about and I actually did three blogs on the topic on youtube. Your description of the types of females you see at hip-hop shows is spot-on. I attend a lot of showcases to support other independent artists...the ladies in the audience are either the 1. girlfriend of said aspiring rap artist along with a few of her friends, 2. a girls jocking said rap artist with a few of her friends etc. lol. I get approached at these shows all of the time since for some reason, when I am at a showcase people don't think of me as the groupie or the rappers girlfriend (rightfully so) - so they think of the next logical explaination...NO, not that I just have a genuine love for the genre and I am there to listen to music but that I MUST BE an A&R or someone that works for a label ROFL hence people pitching themselves to me all night.
Check out youtube.com/SHEEmusic for my blog on the extinction of female rappers > @SHEEmusic on Twitter. Peace.
As a female artist myself, I did grow up to all types of rap & I did grow up in the hood so I can relate to 90% of all hip-hop! It's not easy for a female to be a SUPPORTER "or" GET IN THE INDUSTRY! Even when you are being a SUPPORTER or trying to NETWORK in hopes of following your dream you are still labeled as a groupie! Most people don't take the time to even listen to what a female has to say let alone try to determine whether or not she is a groupie or a true supporter. I feel as a female artist's I need to get out and support other artist's whether they are male or female and at the same time I can spread the word about my own movement! <---That is clearly NOT the traits of a groupie! Most important I feel that females need to SUPPORT each other! Men stick together, even when they don't like each other sometimes they still help each other and females fail to build a support group, it's as if we are at competition! Us females need to come together and uplift eachother! Help each other reach the top and not just on the industry point of view either! -LadyLane
www.myspace.com/ladylane253
Ok, as a man...I'll admit, we don't always give women n this business a fare shake. Not the supporters, not the femcees, especially not camera women, bloggers, and promo people. We thank you, even through cat calls and long conversations with ur cleavage. There'd be no us without u...thanks.
I'm a bit late on this one, but great posting. I must have to say in the last 3 years or so I've seen the indie/undergound hip-hop scene soften up. It definitely balances out the audience so the performing artists has more fans as opposed to performing for folded arm artists was the case in the past. I've also noticed a shift in other artists coming out to shows and supporting artists as well.
Dare I say that hip-hop is progessing...I think so.
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