A timeline of women in hip-hop
By Niema Jordan
Published: June 3rd, 2008 | 9:25am
1973
• DJ Kool Herc (a.k.a. Clive Campbell), known as the founder of hip-hop, gets his first DJing gig at his sister’s birthday party. Kool Herc pioneers the hip-hop sound by playing two of the same records on turntables at the same time — one to let the music play and the other to manipulate the beat — to create break beats for his dancers. Playing popular ’70s disco and funk songs, Herc also incorporates the dancehall/reggae style of toasting, in which the DJ talks over the music to the crowd. Other DJs catch on, a slew of dance parties ensue, and this is how hip-hop is born in the Bronx.
1974
• The culture that emerges from the popular dance parties is dubbed “hip-hop” by participating New York DJs. It consists of four elements: DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti.
1977
• The first all-female hip-hop group, the Mercedes Ladies, forms in New York.
1979
• Rap group Sugar Hill Gang, from Englewood, New Jersey, scores the No. 36 slot on the Billboard Charts with “Rapper’s Delight.” It becomes the first commercially successful rap song.
• Rap crew the Funky Four + One forms with Sha Rock as its only female member, marking the trend of rap groups employing one female member.
1980
• Noted hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow, who is responsible for the classic song “The Breaks,” signs to Mercury, making him the first rap artist to join a major label.
1984
• Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin found Def Jam Records, the label that is responsible for many mainstream hip-hop acts, including LL Cool J and Foxy Brown, and has been very influential in hip-hop since its inception.
• New York quartet U.T.F.O. releases the popular track "Roxanne Roxanne," in which the group attempts to get the attention of a young woman by singing the words "I wanna be your man." The song causes hundreds of people to write response songs. The most popular song, "Roxanne's Revenge," is written by 14-year-old Queens native Roxanne Shanté, who soon becomes known as the First Lady of Hip-Hop. Shanté was later the only female member of the popular Juice Crew, which included Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie.
1988
• Hip-hop achieves new mainstream success when MTV premieres Yo! MTV Raps. The show is hosted by Doctor Dre (not Dr. Dre of Chronic fame) and Ed Lover. In traditional MTV fashion, it features music videos as well as artist interviews and performances. The show includes memorable interviews with Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Salt-N-Pepa during its seven-year run.
• Pioneering female lyricist MC Lyte drops her debut album, Lyte As a Rock.
• "Best Rap Performance"is the first rap category added to the Grammys. The accolade is given to DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith) for "Parents Just Don't Understand."
1989
• Queen Latifah releases her debut album, All Hail the Queen.
• Nikki D. becomes the first female MC to sign to Def Jam.
1991
• The most notable West Coast female MC, Yo-Yo, releases her debut album, Make Way For the Mother Load. While the LP is not a huge commercial success, the critically acclaimed album established the young MC as one of the best.
1992
• LaFace Records introduces the world to TLC and its female MC Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes when the group's Oooh On the TLC Tip debuts.
1993
• MC Lyte's single "Ruffneck" is certified gold and is the first solo female rap artist to reach this status.
1994
• Chicagoan Da Brat makes her debut with Funkdafied (So So Def Records), which is produced by Jermaine Dupri. For many music fans, it is the introduction to the "super producer," who later works with Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, and Janet Jackson.
• TLC releases CrazySexyCool and sells more than 11 million copies of the album, which is now certified Diamond. The album features the song "Waterfalls," which touches on sensitive subjects, including HIV/AIDS.
• Queen Latifah wins the "Best Rap Solo Performance" Grammy for "U.N.I.T.Y."
1996
• Rap group the Fugees releases its critically acclaimed album The Score. Lauryn Hill, the group's only female member, is noted as the trio's standout member.
• Foxy Brown, a 16-year-old Brooklyn native, releases her debut album, Ill Na Na.
• After a year as the only female member of the rap crew Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil’ Kim makes her solo debut with Hardcore. The album produces the platinum-selling single "No Time," which holds the number-one spot on Billboard charts for nine weeks. The remix to the album's track "Not Tonight" becomes a classic hip-hop ladies anthem featuring Angie Martinez, Left Eye, and Missy Elliott.
• Danyel Smith becomes the first female editor in chief of hip-hop magazine VIBE and holds the post for two years before leaving. Smith returns to the position in July 2006.
1997
• Missy Elliott releases her solo rap debut, Supa Dupa Fly. The album launches Elliott's stellar career (she is the only female rapper with six platinum albums) and produces the video for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)." Elliott later becomes known for her creative videos.
1998
• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is released and goes on to get 10 Grammy nominations in 1999. The album wins five awards, including "Album of the Year."
1999
• Eve, the only female member of rap entourage the Ruff Ryders, debuts with Let There Be Eve. It enters the Billboard Top 200 at number one.
• Joan Morgan releases her book When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip-Hop Feminist. The book tackles some of the issues with being a female fan of a predominantly male-dominated music culture.
2002
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes dies in car crash.
• The HipHop Archive is established at Harvard University by Professor Marcyliena Morgan. The archive contains music, art, and film along with hosting conferences and panel discussions. It encourages a more in-depth look at hip-hop and the ways it can be used as a tool for change and to promote leadership.
• South African–born lyricist Jean Grae releases her debut album, Attack of the Attacking Things.
2003
• "Best Female Rap Solo Performance" is added as a Grammy category. Missy Elliott takes the award for her song "Scream a.k.a. Itchin.'"
2004
• Students at Atlanta's all-female Spelman College protest a visit from rapper Nelly. His appearance was slated to encourage students to participate in bone marrow drives. Upset about the rapper's video for his song "Tip Drill" (in which Nelly slides a credit card between a woman's butt cheeks), students succeed in curtailing the artist's visit.
• Gwendolyn D. Pough releases Check It While I Wreck It, a scholarly book about the role of women in hip-hop. The book examines ways women carve spaces in the genre as well as how the culture portrays women, particularly black women.
2005
• Karrine "Superhead" Steffans releases her tell-all book Confessions of a Video Vixen, which details her sexual relationships with famous men, mainly those in the rap game.
• Grime artist Lady Sovereign is signed to Def Jam and becomes the first British artist to reach number one on MTV's American version of Total Request Live.
2007
• New York rapper Lil Mama releases her debut album, VYP: Voice of the Young People, on Jive Records. While she is described by many as pop or hip-pop, she displays a level of versatility making upbeat songs such as "Lip Gloss" as well as more thought-provoking tracks like "L.I.F.E." in which she talks about the foster-care system and teen pregnancy.
2008
• VH-1 debuts reality show Miss Rap Supreme. The show is co-hosted by Yo-Yo and searches for the next great female MC.
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GET THE HIP-HOP ISSUE: Venus Zine's summer issue is available from June 1–September 1, 2008 and features Missy Elliott, Santogold, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Remy Ma, and many other leaders in hip-hop. Order the issue here or purchase a copy at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Chapters.Indigo, Newbury Comics, Waldenbooks, and record stores.
Issue #36
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