Memoirs Of Redefinition Radio #5: History of Women In Hip Hop

Hello good people! Since the next couple weeks on the show aren't theme based I figured I'd take this time to post some of these other lists from previous theme shows, as promised, to feed the minds that the thirst for information...

For Redefinition Radio's first theme show (5-28-05)* we did the History of Women in Hip Hop (as a 2 hr long special) to coincide with Minneapolis' own B Girl Be* conference. This is a topic I like to visit and present from time to time. I think all to often Hip Hop doesn't properly represent for Women. Of course, there's the whole problem with Hip Hop being such a male dominated culture and worse yet, often misogynistic and demeaning. That's certainly a contributing factor to the many struggles Women have in Hip Hop. You can probably imagine that if just in general by a vast percent of male artists and in turn male fans the women are viewed as sexual objects and not respected as equals that definitely creates some additional hurdles in having your voice (or production, dj skills, etc...) heard as an artist.

However, despite these challenges women have been making some key and impressive contributions to Hip Hop since it's early stages. Personally I don't remember every viewing women who rapped in any different light or rate them on a different scale, it was simply talent based. The only time I can recall focusing on the gender of a MC (besides doing these radio specials I suppose) was in the late 80s and I had my crew and it was all guys and I was on a mission to diversify so I was on a quest for a Female MC. I can definitely say that thru out Hip Hop history there's been a unlimited amount of female artists who were very inspirational and influential to me.

As with all things, it's hard to pin point who is the "first" Female MC. The Winley sisters (Paulette & Tanya) are known to be the first to do it on wax with their "Rhyming & Rapping" 12" in '79. Also, in '79 Lady B released here "To The Beat Y'all" 12". Lady B later made her name a Hip Hop staple with her Legendary Philly radio show on Power 99 thru out the 80s. However, looking back a bit further, in 1976 the Mercedes Ladies are recognized as the first all female group. They never made it to recording stage (with the exception of a guest appearance on Donald D's '85 "The Groove") but used to rock the house parties and park jams right along side the other key pioneers of the culture.

Below is a "incomplete" time line that I created to help me put together a playlist for the radio special. You'll see there is sections below each listing of several artists that are still yet to be added to the time line. They weren't added for a couple possible reasons; 1)I didn't have copies of their releases personally or wasn't able to find that info elsewhere, 2)they have a large catalog of releases that I didn't get a chance to complete add, or 3)I had the releases but they didn't have dates on them so I didn't know where to plug them in on the timeline.


DISCLAIMER: This list is not meant or intended to be the END ALL DEFINITIVE list of recording by Female artists in Hip Hop. It's just a nice extensive list to help anyone interested get a nice jump start. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions, corrections, information, stories or what have you. Enjoy!

FEMALE ARTIST IN HIP HOP RECORDED TIMELINE

-1979
Lady B-To The Beat Y'all (tec)
Sequence-Funk You Up (sugarhill)
Paulette & Tanya Winley-Rhyming And Rapping (winley)
Lady D-Lady D
Xanadu & Sweet Lady-Rappers Delight b/w Rockers Choice

-1980
Tanya Winley-Vicious Rap
Sequence-And You Know That 12" (sugarhill)
Blondie-Rapture 12"

-1981
Sequence-Funky Sound 12" (sugarhill)

-1982
Aural Exciters-Chinese Rap 12" (topflight)
Tanya & Paulett Winley-I Believe In The Wheel Of Fortune 12"
Missy Dee & The Melody Crew-Missy Missy Dee

-1983
Two Sisters-B Boys Beware 12" (sugarscoop)
Gigolette-Games Females Play 12" (fever)

-1984
Real Roxanne-Real Roxanne 12" (select)
Dimples D-Sucker DJs (party time)
US Girls (Sha Rock, Debbie D, Lisa Lee)-US Girls (Beat Street Soundtrack)
US Girls-New York City Breakers

-1985
Sweet Trio-Non Stop
Symbolic Three-No Show b/w We're Treacherous 12" (reality)
Supernature (aka Salt n Pepa)-Showstoppa (pop art)
Sparky D-Sparky's Turn 12" (nia)
Zee Lee-No More Roxanne 12"
Roxy-Roxanne's Sister (party crew)
Betty Boo & Ms Thang-Bad Girls (starlite)
Sparky D vs Shante-Round One (spin)
Peeple Poo-A Fly Guy (profile)
Roxanne Shante-Bite This
Roxanne Shante-Queen of Rox
Roxanne Shante-Runaway
Sweet T & Iyoni J (?)-DMX Will Rock 12" (Davy DMX)
Donald D-The Groove (featuring The Mercedes Ladies)

-1986
Real Roxanne-Bang Zoom b/w Howie's Teed Off (select)
Sweet & Jazzy Joyce-It's My Beat 12" (profile)
Salt N Pepa-Hot Cool Vicious LP (next plateau)
Glamour Girls-Oh Veronica (pop art)
Evette Money-Sounds Of The Playboys (slice)
Evette Money-Get A Taste Of it b/w Long Live The Queen (slice)
Bronx Girls w/Chrissy C-Get Fresh Boy! (emergency)
Wanda D-Blue Eyes
Roxanne Shante-Def Fresh Crew

-1987
Roxanne Shante-Payback b/w Freestyle Live 12" (pop art)
Roxanne Shante-Have A Nice Day 12" (cold chillin)
Finesse & Synquis-Bass Game 12" (mca)
Sweet T-It's Like That Y'all b/w I Got Da Feelin' 12" (profile)
Sweet T-Let The Jingle Bells Rock (Christmas Rap Compilation) (profile)
Antionette-I Got An Attitude 12" (next plateau)
Salt N Pepa-Push It (rmx) & I Am Down (The House That Rap Built Compilation) (next plateau)
Salt N Pepa-Tramp b/w Push It (next plateau)
Salt N Pepa-Shake Your Thang b/w Spinderealla's Not A Fella

-1988
Vanilla C-Enough Bass b/w Him Nor You 12" (city fresh)
Yvette Money-I'm Gonna Get Mine b/w The Other Side Of Me (4th & Broadway)
Finesse & Synquis-Soul Sisters b/w Soft But Deadly (mca)
Finesse & Synquis-Soul Sisters LP (mca)
B Girls Live & Kicking Compilation w/L.A. Star, Sparky D, 5 Star Moet, Baby Doll LP (b boy)
Ice T (of Divine Force)-Aint It Funky (jamakka)
MC Lyte-Lyte As A Rock (w/rmxs) b/w Shut The Eef Up... 12" (first priority)
Queen Latifiah-Wrath Of Maddness b/w Princess Of The Posse 12" (tommy boy)
J.J. Fad-Supersonic 12" (ruthless)
J.J. Fad-Way Out b/w Comin Correct 12" (ruthless)
J.J. Fad-Is It Love? b/w Ya Goin' Down & My Dope Intro 12" (ruthless)
J.J. Fad-Supersonic LP (ruthless)
The Real Roxanne LP (select)
Michie Mee-On This Mic b/w Victory Is Calling (w/MC Lyte) 12" (atlantic)
Salt N Pepa-Spinderellas Not A Fella b/w Shake Your Thing 12" (next plateau)
Salt N Pepa-Get Up b/w Twist and Shout 12" (next plateau)
Salt N Pepa-A Salt With A Deadly Pepa LP (next plateau)
Sparky D-This Is Sparky D's World LP (b boy)
Antionette-Who's The Boss? (w/DJ Pooh Rmx) b/w Hit Me With Your Best Shot 12" (next plateau)
Antionette-Hit 'Em With This b/w Unfinished Business 12" (next plateau)
Lisa Lee-I'm A Pioneer (Rap's New Generation Compilation)
She Rockers-Give It A Rest (Hard As Hell Vol 2 Compilation)
Sugar and Spice-That's Funky (Hollywood Live Compilation)
MC Lyte-Lyte As A Rock LP (atlantic)
MC Lyte-Paperthin 12"
Sweet T-It's Tee Time LP (profile)
Queen Latifiah-Wrath Of My Maddness b/w Princess Of The Posse 12" (tommy boy)

-1989
MC Lyte-Eyes On This LP
Ice Cream Tee-Keep Hushin' (Cold Chillin' In The Studio Live LP)
Ice Cream Tee-Can't Hold Back! LP (uni)
Antionette-Who's The Boss? LP (next plateau)
MC Trouble-Can't Get Enough & High Rollers Girl (What Does It All Mean Compilation)
Laurie And Angela-Get Off My Tip (The Union Compilation)
Silk Tymes Leather-Do Your Dance b/w I Like It Funky 12" (a&m)
Ms. Melodie-Wake Up Wake Up! & Live On Stage 12" (jive)
Cookie Crew-Born This Way LP (polygram)
Cookie Crew-Born This Way 12" (w/rmxs including Prince Paul)
Queen Latifiah-Dance For Me b/w Insidie Out 12"
Queen Latifiah-All Hail The Queen LP

-1990
Antionette-Burnin' At 20 Below LP (next plateau)
L.A. Star-Poetess LP (profile)
Shazzy-Attitude: A Hip Hop Rhapsody LP (elektra)
Tairrie B-The Power Of A Woman LP (mca)
Soula-Soul Sista (West Coast All Stars Compilation)
Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice-We Came To Dance (West Coast All Stars Compilation)
Queen Mother Rage-Slippin Into Darkness 12" (cardiac)
Nikki-Lettin' Off Steam b/w Up The Ante... 12" (def jam)
MC Trouble-Gotta Get A Grip 12" (w/rmxs including DJ Pooh) (motown)
Yo Yo-Stompin To Tha 90s b/w Dope Femininity 12" (atlantic)
Monie Love-Down To Earth LP (warner brothers)

-1991
Queen Mother Rage-Key Testimony 12" (w/rmxs) (cardiac)
Sista Souljah-The Final Solution 12" (epic)
Sonyalive-I'm Coming Into Conciousness (Cold Front Compilation)
New Black Nation-Soul Vibration (Cold Front Compilation)
Nikki D-18 & Loves to Go 12" (def jam)
Nikki D-Daddy's Little Girl LP (def jam)
Nikki D-Wasted 12" (def jam)
Queen Latifiah-Nature Of A Sista LP
-1992
Poetess-Simply Poetry LP (interscope)
Bahamadia-Funk Vibe (Funky Vibes EP)
Shante-Big Mama 12" (livin large)
Shante-Straight Razor b/w Deadly Rhymes 12" (livin large)
Heather B-I Get Wreck b/w Get A Job 12"

-1993
Simple E-Play My Funk 12"
Shazzy-Stone Walls b/w Ghettosburg Address 12"
N Tyce-Hush Hush Tip b/w Root Beer Float 12" (wildpitch)
Mother Superior-Roc Bottom 12"
Concious Daughters-Somthing To Ride To b/w TCD In Da Front (scarface)
Queen Latifiah-Bring The Flavor, Leshaun-Gimmie..., Nikki D-Freak Out, & Bigga Sistas-Sounds Of Fatness
(Roll w/the Flava Compilation) (epic)
Queen Latifiah-Black Reign LP

-1994
Queen Latifiah-Black Hand Side (motown)
Champ MC-Funk House, Cruzin' (w/YO YO), Stressin Me, Catchin' Wreck (LP Sampler) (east west)
Madam Star-Looking For A Dame (cold chillin)
Lauryn Hill-Some Seek Stardom (Featured On Blunted On Reality LP)
Sha Key-Soulsville b/w Children Of The Corn 12" (imago)
Sha Key-A Headnaddas Journey LP (imago)
Nefertiti-L.I.F.E (Living In Fear of Extinction) LP
Lady Of Rage-Afro Puffs 12"

-1995
Ang 13-No Contest (Talent Fest Compilation)
Lin Que-Let It Fall b/w Perlay 12"
N Tyce-Sure Ya Right 12"
Verb-Rain (w/rmx) Demo Only
Bahamadia-Youknowhowwedo b/w True Honey Buns
Love n Pros-Nobody Knows My Name
Uneek, Precise, Lauryn Hill, Treep, & Bahamadia-Da Ladies In Da House
MC Lyte, Nefertiti, Queen Latifiah, Salt N Pepa, Yo Yo, etc...-Freedom (Theme From Panther)
99-Jhomba (Grand Royal-Mixed Drink Sampler CD)

-1996
Bahamadia-Kollage LP
Heather B-If Headz Only Knew b/w No Doubt 12"
Bahamadia-Paperthin 12"
Mother Superior-Most Of All 12"

-1997
Lady Of Rage-Necessary Roughness
Medusa-You Betta Be 12"

-1998
Apani w/Lyric, Helixx C. Armageddon, Ayana aka Essence, What What aka Jean Grae, Pri Da Honey Dark,
Yejide the Night Queen, Herione-Estragen 12"
T Love-Return OF The B Girl EP
T Love-I'm Coming 12"

-1999
Ang 13-The Whole World Is Listening EP
Anomolies (Helixx C. Armageddon & Pri the Honey Dark)-Lunchbreak

-2000
Apani-Spot Me b/w A Million Eyes 12"
Medusa-Fiend Or The Fix (Nobody-Soulmates LP)

-2001
Mystic-The Life (good vibe)
Mystic-Cuts For Luck and Scars For Freedom LP
T Love-QMS b/w Witch Bitch

-2002
Jean Grae-Thank Ya 12"
Jean Grae-Love Song b/w What Would I Do? 12"
Jean Grae-Attack Of The Attacking Things LP
Wildflower-Good Girl Gone Bad (Herbaliser-Something Wicked This Way Comes LP)
Stahhr-Rhyme Fluid, Wizdom, Beautiful Xperience, G.R.I.T.S 12"
Feline Science (feat Medusa)-Undaground Crewed
Psalm One-Bio Chemistry LP

-2003
T Love-Who Smoked Sunshine? b/w Chiquita
T Love-Long Way Back LP

-2005
Desdamona-The Ledge LP
Psalm One-Get In The Van Vol. 1 (Mix CD)

-other females completed in timeline
debbie d & wanda d, iyoni j-dmx will rock, denyce "flip", main attraction, tic and toc, glamourous, frick n frack, lady c, lazy & lisa, lady crush, pinky d, ms melodie, pre sweet, she rockers, harmony, champ mc, monie love, mc trouble, mc peaches, isis aka lin que, motion, deadly venoms, poizon posse, bonnie n clyde, bahamadia, hurricane g, s.i.n., foxy brown, nemisis, flo brown, sonja blade, rah digga, lil kim, missy elliot, desamona, Psalm one,,Deb B (of vicious beat posse), pam the funktress, boss, cess (of u.t.d), boss on wake up show, roslyn, essence (of natural elements), makeba mooncycle, rita j, suga t, leshaun, shortie no mas, tara black, fire, ranya shine, s.t.a.h.r.r., eve, herione of juggaknots, syndel (of Old Dominion), boss, indigo, choice, wee papa girls

-djs
jazzy joyce, wanda d, spinderella, dj stef, dj anna, pam the funktress, shortee, kuttin kandi, killa jewelz

-producers
the angel (mystic, etc...)
nikki nicole (II Unorthodox, King T, Above The Rim, Bush Babes, etc...)
run run shaw (pumpkinhead-dynamic & dynamic rmx)
Melbeatz (berlin)
Missy Elliot

FEATURED FEMALE ARTISTS

-1979
Sharock (Funky Four-Rappin' and Rockin' The House 12")

-1980
Lisa Lee (Cosmic Force-Zulu Nation Throwdown Volume one) 12"
Sharock (Funky Four-The Joint 12")
Sequence (w/Sugarhill Gang-Monster Jam 12")

-1982
Sharock (Funky Four-Do You Wanna Rock 12"

-1984
Mimi (Dynasty & Mimi-Rappers Revenge) 12" (jive)


-1985
K Love (Bad Boys-Bad Boys) 12"
Baby T & Lady Crush (Tim Greene-The Facts Of Life) 12" (sugarscoop)

-1986
Betty Boo (Bronx Vice-Needle Noise b/w Ziggy Zag & Do It To The Groove) 12"

-1989
Cookie Crew & She Rockers (B.R.O.T.H.E.R-Beyond The 16th Parallel 12")

-1990
Queen Latifiah (Flavor Unit-....Assassanation Squad from 45 King Presents LP)
New World Mafia-I Got Style (West Coast All Stars Compilation)
DJ Cocoa (Kings Of Swing-Nod To This b/w Go Cocoa 12")

-1991
HEAL YOURSELF w/Harmony, MC Lyte, Queen Latifiah
Boss (AMG-My Sista Izza.... from the ...betta have my money LP)
Lady of Rage (LA Posse-The Winds To Def To Die & Total Choas from the They Come In All Colors LP)

-1993
Sah B (de'1-Da Underground) 12" (reprise)
Ladybug-Where I'm From 12" (pendulum)
Paula Perry (Masta Ace-Who U Jackin? from the Slaugherhouse LP) (delicious vinyl)
Ladybug (Digable Planets-Reachin LP)

-1994
cess (u.t.d-my kung fu) 12"
Uneek (Doo Wop & The Bounce Squad-Bounce Rock Skate Roll) (noo trybe)
Lauryn Hill (The Fugees-Blunted On Reality LP)
T Love, Nefertiti, Medusa, Ko Ko (Project Blowed-Round 2)
Ladybug (Digable Planets-Blowout Comb LP)

-1995
Mystic (The B.U.M.S-Lyfe n Times)
Bahamadia (Guru-Respect The Architect from The Jazzmatazz Volume Two LP)

-1996
Essence (Mr Voodoo w/Natural Elements-Shine 12")
Lauryn Hill (The Fugees-The Score LP)

-1997
Essence (Kool Kim-Ya Gotta Know 12")
Apani (High Priest Of Anti Pop-Distortion 12")
Apani (Attica Blues w/Anti Pop-3ree Rmx 12")

-1998
DJ Shortee-Rocking With The Best (DJ Faust-Man Or Myth? Mix CD)

-1999
Apani (Polyrhythmaddicts LP)

-2000

-2001
Medusa (Ozomatli-Vocal Artillery 12")
Jean Grae-The Hurt (w/Murs), Taco Day, Love Venom (w/Breezley Bruin of The Juggaknots) (Mr Len-Pity The Fool LP)
Wildflower, Estelle, Tempa-Domestic Science (Skitz-Countryman LP)
Wildflower-Twilight Of The Gods (Skitz-Countyman LP)

-2004
Sarah White-It's Cool (Traditional Methods-Falling Forwad LP)

??????
need name
_____ & _______ of Dr. Rocx & Co ("girlfriends/boyfriends)
_________ of Datbu
_________ of Rap O Matic
_________ or Magnificent 3

need year
champain-ghetto tunez b/w corruption everyday
mama mystique-tremendous
helixx c. armageddon (w/jise one-black listed) 12"
apani-narcotic (tag of the times 2)


*You can listen to our 2 Hour special of Female artists in Hip Hop at our Redefinition Web page by going here:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/redefinition_radio/archive_2005.php

*Be Girl Be will be having their second annual conference here in Minneapolis from June 29th-July 2nd.
For more info:  ÃƒÂƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚ http://www.myspace.com/bgirlbe ÃƒÂƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚