The Future Of Female Rap Shouldn't Be Competitive

Lizzo earned her 2nd top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her song “Good As Hell” further adding to what already is a dominant year for her. Being one of the many exciting and charismatic artists, Lizzo has made a name for herself making honest, relatable music, and being comfortable in her own skin. Both her and Meg Thee Stallion will look to have great sophomore years in 2020 after having complete control over the charts this year. Following a similar trend to the rest of the entertainment business during the “Me Too” era, women have been getting more mainstream attention than ever. 

With Hip-Hop’s reputation, a male-dominated genre but also a particularly misogynistic genre, it is exciting to see so many women killing the game right now. During the ’90s and early 2000s, many women could hold their own in the rap game like Lil Kim, Left Eye, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, etc. But this upcoming decade might see the most commercial success for women within the Hip-Hop space yet. Even more so it seems as if we’re going to get some more alliances and friendships between women in Hip-Hop.

Since Nicki Minaj first showed up on the scene in 2010 with “Pink Friday,” the ceiling for women in rap has undoubtedly risen. But like most superstars, Nicki Minaj has had her fair share of haters and doubters. But after a decade of being the biggest woman in rap, Nicki has cemented herself as one of the greatest rappers of the 21st century. But as soon as Cardi B started gaining traction in Hip-Hop, the media created a rivalry narrative. Instead of allowing the two artists to coexist, fans were forced to choose one over the other. Both being New York powerhouses alone, control over the city, the radio waves and the hearts of fans across America was up for grabs. Their constant controversy was capped off with both women getting into a physical fight at a New York fashion week event in 2018.

With the increase of women in mainstream rap, there has been an increase in comradery as well, with more cosigns and calls for support than ever. From, Nicki hopping on Meg Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer” to Cardi B calling for more support for women in rap, especially MC’s who don’t rap sex, even highlighting several rappers she respected like Rapsody, Tierra Whack, Kamaiyah, and Chika. It is clear the competitive narrative for women in rap is beginning to change, and the people who will benefit the most are the fans.

What we have to avoid going into the future is pitting our favorite rappers against each other. Since the very beginning of rap, it’s been competitive. The presence of battle rap and rap competition shows proves this point. Rappers even like to compare themselves to basketball players, and frequently find themselves in rivalries that can be both personal and driven by the media. Rap beef is one of the most entertaining aspects of the genre, some of the biggest artists of all time have had beef on the mainstage. Kanye and Drake, Nas and Jay-Z, Biggy and Tupac, etc... However, going forward, it is important to understand we could witness a golden era for women in rap. As fans of the genre, we have to allow these artists to grow and cement legacies that will go on to inspire the next generation of artists. Rappers like Doja Cat, Rico Na$ty and Tierra Whack wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the women who came before them, and while we used to wonder if there could be two Ladies at the top, it seems as if the top will be quite crowded for the foreseeable future.