Another Poor Excuse

from Entertainment Weekly:

It wasn't always like this. From 1998 to 2003, female rappers such as Lauryn Hill, Eve, and Missy Elliott were among the genre's most bankable artists. But nearly all of their successors — including Lil Mama, Kid Sister, Ms Dynamite, and Jean Grae — have struggled to connect with listeners. And it's harder than ever to launch new talent. ''Hair and makeup is killing female hip-hop,'' says a source. ''The grooming cost to break a female rapper versus a male rapper is 10 times as much per appearance. That tends to have an adverse effect on a record company's willingness to even entertain a female rapper.''



So let me get this straight: there aren't any women MCs out there because they don't want to foot the bill for a glam squad? But, somehow, Hollywood tends to make a killing suiting and booting these white girls while their careers, talented or not, skyrocket?

I think we need to take a closer look at the people in positions of power, these unnamed "sources" providing jaded excuses, and the environment of hate and hypersexualization in Hip Hop that gives ladies of substance not much of a choice but to respectfully decline - for their own sanity.

There may be a lacking in the major record label scene (which is rapidly becoming obsolete across the board) but from what I can see on the independent level, there are plenty of talented women on the mic from Compton to Crooklyn. You just have to look harder.



(P.S. Check the comments on the Racialious repost for some much-needed insight)