During a recent appearance on Kevin Hart’s “Hart to Heart” talk show on Peacock, J. Cole took a moment to celebrate the impressive work of women in the hip-hop industry. Expressing his genuine admiration, the Dreamville leader acknowledged the shift in the landscape, noting how the presence of female rappers has grown exponentially over the past year or two.
“It’s a whole different ball game,” Cole opened. “I’ve been feeling this for like maybe a year or two. I hate to say it cause it almost sounds like pandering, but I really do think like, man, it’s a lot of fire female rappers.
“You always had a Lil Kim, a Foxy [Brown], but there could never be more than one almost it felt like. Now, we’re getting moments and moments and moments. I think it’s hard,” Cole explained.
In contrast to Cole’s positive remarks, fellow rapper Fabolous found himself embroiled in controversy due to his recent comments about female rap. The ‘Summertime Shootout’ artist suggested that female rappers focus more on their image and sexuality rather than their lyrical prowess, implying that their talent is overshadowed by their sex appeal.
“Love hearing the female rappers talking some real sitt,” Fab said. “Women are so strong, have so many stories and perspectives that we need to hear in pure form.
“No disrespect to any of the female rappers out, but I think there’s only one style of female rap/hip hop being promoted, programmed, and looked at as successful now.”
While Fabolous’ comments drew criticism, a new Netflix docuseries titled “Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip Hop” is set to honor the contributions of hip-hop’s reigning queens. The docuseries features an array of powerful women in the industry, including icons like Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Rah Digga, and Da Brat, as well as newer sensations like Saweetie, Coi Leray, Latto, Tierra Whack, Rapsody, Kash Doll, and Chika.
In light of the diverse voices showcased in “Ladies First,” some fans expressed their surprise and disappointment that Nicki Minaj was excluded from the series. Nevertheless, the docuseries scheduled to release on Aug. 9 promises to shed light on the dynamic journey of women in hip-hop, highlighting their strength and stories, which are an essential part of the genre’s evolution.
