“It’s funny how money changes situations, miscommunication leads to complications. My emancipation does not fit your equation.” I remember listening to this song and thinking Lauryn Hill has major talent. ‘Lost Ones’ was just a portion of all the other tracks she killed, with the likes of Erykah Badu who has amazing rhyming skills for days.
These two women, alongside other female artists, have shown many ladies that you don’t need to be afraid to have a mind and words you can express. But how many females are stepping up these days and spitting? I remember Erykah Badu stating in one of her interviews that if you a female and you want to make it in this industry you will need to get butt implants, big boobs, fake hair and you have to sound like a bimbo. She was talking how the level of hip hop has dropped when it comes to female rappers.
Let us face it, this industry is dominated by males andas a woman you’re going to have to prove yourself twice as hard. Thanks to the likes of Nicki Minaj, who has sparked an uproar, now most females are not afraid to go on the mic and explore the talent that they think they may have. It’s hard for you not to get judged, but females should depend on their minds to sell their music rather than on their sex appeal. Research the hip hop game and what it takes to make it because, honestly, a fake image will only get you so far.
We need more Lauryn’s who are not afraid to go into a battle and win it. To actually rhyme about things that are happening in this world, not to be afraid, to step out and voice themselves. Hip Hop has no favourite gender. Whether you’re female or male, you need to deliver.
We are now living in a generation where constant change is happening everywhere you go. Respect is earned by the work you produce. So ladies, go out and spit those words that make peoples brain twitch. The more knowledge you acquire the better.
Nomsa Motale