In the new issue of HYPE that features a bountiful Nicki Minaj on the cover, we’ve include a timeline at the bottom of every page to remind ourselves of the great milestones reached by women in hip hop. In honour of women’s month, check out some random facts that you may not know about some of hip hop’s leading ladies:
- Nigerian rap first lady Sasha won a MAMA for Best African Collaboration for the track ‘Put It Down’ featuring Dama Do Bling.
- Courtnae Paul qualified and battled as the only b-girl at Masters of Rhythm in 2011. She’s now a member of Clinch Crew.
- In 2011 MsCosmo was the only female DJ from SA to attend the World Music Conference in Miami.
- Kreayshawn’s debut single ‘Gucci Gucci’ in 2011 went viral on the net, and got her a record deal with Columbia.
- Xtatic bagged herself a multi-album deal with Sony Music Entertainment Africa in 2012.
- In 2012 Nicki Minaj became the first female MC to have seven songs on the charts at the same time.
- In Aug/Sep 2012 HYPE featured the first ever Women in Hip Hop pullout supplement – the same issue which debuted the ‘Lists’.
- The Aug/Sep 2012 HYPE mixtape was the first ever all-female mixtape featuring the likes of Pilzy Lee, Devour ke Lenyora, Protista, Gigi Lamayne and more.
- In 2012, Iggy Azalea became the first female and first non-American rapper to appear on the cover of XXL’s annual Top 10 Freshman issue.
- Nicki Minaj was the only female on Forbes’ top hip hop cash kings in 2012, raking in over $15 million.
- After a long hiatus, Missy Elliott released the singles ‘9th Inning’ and ‘Triple Threat’ exclusively to iTunes in September 2012.
- In 2013 Toya Delazy won multiple SAMA awards for her debut album Due Drop.
- Missy Elliott is still the only female MC with six platinum albums.
- Gigi Lamayne had her first poem published by the Poetry Institute of Africa at age 11, called ‘Valentine’s Day’.
Image Credit: Flo Mokale