Memorable Female Characters in Music

Kendrick’s Sherane is the latest muse to inspire greatness.

Sherane (Kendrick Lamar) - On his critically acclaimed debut good kid, m.A.A.d. city, Kendrick Lamar tells the tale of bodacious femme-fetale Sherane, who got him into more trouble than he needed. Hip hop fans followed Lamar through the treacherous streets of Los Angeles as he vividly detailed his mis-adventures in pursuit of Sherane’s affection. Though Sherane (a pseudonym for Lamar’s real-life high school crush) has become a household name in rap circles, she’s not the first female character to garner attention from music fans. Musicians have been inspired by muses of the fairer sex for years. Here, we offer the names of some of the memorable fictional female characters in music.(Photo: Interscope Records)

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Sherane (Kendrick Lamar) - On his critically acclaimed debut good kid, m.A.A.d. city, Kendrick Lamar tells the tale of bodacious femme-fetale Sherane, who got him into more trouble than he needed. Hip hop fans followed Lamar through the treacherous streets of Los Angeles as he vividly detailed his mis-adventures in pursuit of Sherane’s affection. Though Sherane (a pseudonym for Lamar’s real-life high school crush) has become a household name in rap circles, she’s not the first female character to garner attention from music fans. Musicians have been inspired by muses of the fairer sex for years. Here, we offer the names of some of the memorable fictional female characters in music.(Photo: Interscope Records)

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) - Before hip hop stars knew the pains of groupie love, Michael Jackson penned a hit single about one obsessed female fan. On Jackson's 1983 smash "Billie Jean" the king of pop sang about a groupie who accused him of fathering her child. (Photo: Epic Records)

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Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) - Before hip hop stars knew the pains of groupie love, Michael Jackson penned a hit single about one obsessed female fan. On Jackson's 1983 smash "Billie Jean" the king of pop sang about a groupie who accused him of fathering her child. (Photo: Epic Records)

Darling Nikki (Prince) - Prince has encountered his fair share of vixens, but none had qualities as addictive as the one he made famous in his 1984 single, “Darling Nikki.” The song about the sex crazed temptress has been sampled and covered the world over by stars like Rihanna, who did so on her Loud Tour in 2011. (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

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Darling Nikki (Prince) - Prince has encountered his fair share of vixens, but none had qualities as addictive as the one he made famous in his 1984 single, “Darling Nikki.” The song about the sex crazed temptress has been sampled and covered the world over by stars like Rihanna, who did so on her Loud Tour in 2011. (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Brenda (Tupac Shakur) - Long before MTV’s 16 & Pregnant became pop culture hit, Tupac introduced the world to a teenage mom with a world of issues that few reality shows would be eager to exploit. Pac’s intense 1991 single “Brenda’s Got a Baby” chronicled the life of a 12-year-old girl growing up fast in the ghetto as a single mom. (Photo: Death Row Records)

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Brenda (Tupac Shakur) - Long before MTV’s 16 & Pregnant became pop culture hit, Tupac introduced the world to a teenage mom with a world of issues that few reality shows would be eager to exploit. Pac’s intense 1991 single “Brenda’s Got a Baby” chronicled the life of a 12-year-old girl growing up fast in the ghetto as a single mom. (Photo: Death Row Records)

A Quest for Rhymes - Lighty put together the deal between A Tribe Called Quest and Sprite, bringing the hip hop group major endorsement money. He was also a member of the Native Tongues crew and rose up the ranks with Tribe's members back in the day. (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Bonita Applebum (A Tribe Called Quest) - Like Kendrick Lamar’s Sherane, the members of A Tribe Called Quest pined for a high school love interest on their 1990 single “Bonita Applebum.”(Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Renee (The Lost Boyz) - The heartbreak of a lost love inspired The Lost Boyz to pen a song about a “ghetto love” that ends tragically on their 1996 single, “Renee.” The tale of the beautiful around-the-way girl with the bright future ahead of her who loses her life at the hand of gun violence in the hood helped the Queens rap group capture their most successful single ever.(Photo: Uptown Records)

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Renee (The Lost Boyz) - The heartbreak of a lost love inspired The Lost Boyz to pen a song about a “ghetto love” that ends tragically on their 1996 single, “Renee.” The tale of the beautiful around-the-way girl with the bright future ahead of her who loses her life at the hand of gun violence in the hood helped the Queens rap group capture their most successful single ever.(Photo: Uptown Records)

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Jane (EPMD) - Scorned rappers can certainly hold a grudge. Rap duo EPMD never quite got over a scandalous encounter they had with a not-so-ordinary dame named “Jane” in 1988. The Long Island-bred hip hop group rapped about the tricky female throughout a long running series of singles of the same name. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1)

Photo By Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1

The-Dream Kills the Radio and Makes Hits - Terius "The-Dream" Nash has had quite a few successful solo albums, but he's also made a name for himself as a successful songwriter and producer for Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and most recently Keyshia Cole.  Check him out tonight in the studio with Keyshia on Keyshia & Daniel: Family First at 10P/9C!   (Photo: Def Jam)

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Nikki (The-Dream) - Two decades after Prince sang of his encounters with an out of control sex kitten on “Darling Nikki,” singer-songwriter The-Dream found himself in a similar bind with his own “Nikki.” The 2007 album cut finds The-Dream seeking revenge on an unfaithful ex by making love to the irresistible vixen Nikki. However, two years later on the sequel, “Nikki Part 2,” the singer’s lust for Nikki brings drama to his new relationship.(Photo: Def Jam)

Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson) - Where he looked to clear his name after a false paternity charge from a groupie on “Billie Jean” in 1984, Michael Jackson had a different kind of run-in with an obsessed fan four years later. The king of pop crooned of the freaky talents of one groupie on his 1988 hit, “Dirty Diana.” The rock-tinged song was one of the many singles to reach number one on the charts from his ubiquitous album Bad.(Photo: Epic Records)

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Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson) - Where he looked to clear his name after a false paternity charge from a groupie on “Billie Jean” in 1984, Michael Jackson had a different kind of run-in with an obsessed fan four years later. The king of pop crooned of the freaky talents of one groupie on his 1988 hit, “Dirty Diana.” The rock-tinged song was one of the many singles to reach number one on the charts from his ubiquitous album Bad.(Photo: Epic Records)

Shakiyla (Poor Righteous Teachers) - Before rap songs became increasingly nihilistic and degrading to women, some rappers knew how to treat their special lady like a queen. Count New Jersey rap trio Poor Righteous Teachers among the circle of MCs that had respect for the sisters. They particularly had a thing for one hard to get Nubian beauty on their 1990 single, “Shakiyla.” (Photo: Artista Records)

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Shakiyla (Poor Righteous Teachers) - Before rap songs became increasingly nihilistic and degrading to women, some rappers knew how to treat their special lady like a queen. Count New Jersey rap trio Poor Righteous Teachers among the circle of MCs that had respect for the sisters. They particularly had a thing for one hard to get Nubian beauty on their 1990 single, “Shakiyla.” (Photo: Artista Records)

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Roxanne (U.T.F.O.) - If you want to talk fictional female characters in hip hop, you have to start with Roxanne. The sexy unapproachable beauty didn’t show much love to the members of U.T.F.O. on their classic single “Roxanne, Roxanne,” but she ended up becoming the genesis for the real life rap battle between Queens femcee Roxanne Shante and U.T.F.O. (Photo: Courtesy RCA Records)

Slick Rick

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Mona Lisa (Slick Rick) - Leonardo da Vinci had his Mona Lisa and Slick Rick had his. While da Vinci’s was the silent type, Rick took hip hop fans on an adventure with his green-eyed temptress. “Mona Lisa,” the 1998 single featured on the Bronx MC’s 1988 album, is one of the greatest songs in hip hop history.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)