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Ms. Melodie – Boogie Down Productions - From Roxanne Shante of the Juice Crew to Nicki Minaj of Young Money, rap crews throughout history have always needed a talented female to rep for them. As the wife of rap icon KRS-One, Ms. Melodie was the first lady of his Boogie Down Productions crew almost by default. However, Mel gave up her crown and left her recording career behind altogether after their divorce in 1992. Yesterday [July 18] it was reported that the Brooklyn, NY native died of unspecified causes and the news shocked many. In light of the unexpected death of the hip hop pioneer, BET.com takes a look at other rap crews' so-called first ladies.(Photo: Courtesy Jive Records)

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Iggy Azalea - Grand Hustle - T.I.'s Grand Hustle was  so attracted to the swag of Australian femcee Iggy Azalea, who broke through in 2010 after her "P---y" video went viral, they made her an official member of the team in March 2012.  (Photo: Robin Marchant/FilmMagic)

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Lola Monroe – Taylor Gang - Wiz Khalifa announced last year that he had signed Lola Monroe to his Taylor Gang crew, and she's already become one of its standout members, snagging a nomination for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Nicki Minaj – Young Money - Although she was once down with both Gucci Mane's So Icey Entertainment and Lil Wayne's Young Money at the same time, Minaj ultimately aligned with YM. The Queens MC signed with the label in August 2009 and released her platinum-selling album, Pink Friday, the following year. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Lil Kim – Junior M.A.F.I.A.  - As the only woman in the Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew, Kim learned to hold her own from jump. When the group dismantled after the demise of their leader the Notorious B.I.G., Kim went on to forge a successful career, becoming one of the greatest femcees of all time, all on her own. (Photo: Augustin/PictureGroup)

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Foxy Brown – The Firm  - Although her stint with the Firm crew was brief, Foxy provided a much needed feminine touch to the New York rap group that included Nas, AZ and Nature (who replaced Cormega)…well, as much femininity as the hardcore BK rapper could muster up. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Eve – Ruff Ryders - Referring to herself as the "Illest, vicious Pitbull in a skirt," Eve introduced her position with the title of her debut album on Ruff Ryders, Let There Be Eve… Ruff Ryders' First Lady, on September 14, 1999. The Swizz Beatz-produced double platinum-selling album kicked off her career and solidified her spot with the crew. (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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Charli Baltimore – The Commission  - In addition to his Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew, the Notorious B.I.G. also created another mafioso-inspired hip hop supergroup called the Commission. The crew included Jay-Z, Lil Cease, Diddy and Big himself and placed Philly rapper Charli Baltimore at its helm.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/WireImage)

Photo By Bennett Raglin/WireImage

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Vita – Murder Inc.  - Although Ashanti may have been viewed as the first lady of Murder Inc., Vita was the lead female rapper for the crew. However, she quickly ended her affiliation with the crew after many numerous delays halted her debut album, La Dolce Vita, from ever being released. (Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

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Rah Digga – Da Outsidaz - Before linking up with Busta Rhymes and joining his Flipmode Squad, Rah Digga was the only female in Da Outsidaz clique. (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

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Syd Tha Kyd – Odd Future - Syd tha Kyd is the only female member of the Los Angeles-based alternative hip hop collective Odd Future. Although Syd doesn't jump into the limelight often, she's integral to the crew in her role as the crew's DJ and is responsible for bringing the crew together in the first place to record in her parents' home studio.(Photo: Courtesy Red Records)

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Amil – Roc-A-Fella - Perhaps best known for her feature on Jay-Z's "Can I Get A…," Amil was recruited to join Roc-A-Fella after Jay decided that his third album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, needed a woman's touch. The NY femcee linked with the crew officially in 1999 for the Hard Knock Life Tour. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

Photo By Courtesy Columbia Records

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Mia X – No Limit  - As the first female signee to No Limit Records, Mia X released three albums between 1995 and 1998. In 1997 Unlady Like, her second album on the Master P-owned label, was certified gold.  (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)

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Roxanne Shanté – Juice Crew - Early hip hop femcee Roxanne Shanté is perhaps best known now for her role in sparking the "Roxanne Wars" after she recorded a diss track in response to UTFO's hit "Roxanne, Roxanne." However, at the time the war was being waged she was best known for affiliation with Marly Marl as a founding member of the Juice Crew.(Photo: Courtesy Tommy Boy/Warner Bros Records)

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Remy Ma – Terror Squad - After catching Remy performing in the Bronx, NY, Terror Squad's Big Pun signed on to become her mentor and later invited her to join the crew in 1999. Seven years later Ma released her debut solo album There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story, which spawned her two biggest singles to date "Whateva" and "Conceited." (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage)