12 Classic Rap Albums by Women
These LPs need to be in your playlist.
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12 Classic Rap LPs by Women - Hip hop can sometimes seem like a sausagefest. But luckily, the rap music history books feature some sterling contributions from MCs of the fairer sex. As Women’s History Month wraps up, BET.com highlights 12 classic rap albums crafted by lady lyricists.(Photos from left: Ruffhouse Records/Columbia, Atlantic Records, Big Beat Records)
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Artist: Lauryn Hill Year: 1998 While Lauryn Hill had major success as frontwoman of The Fugees, her solo debut album cemented her place in hip hop royalty. Miseducation was heartfelt and honest, stemming from her past relationship with band-mate Wyclef Jean. While L-Boogie bounced back and forth between rhyming and singing, her lyrical ferocity remained at the forefront, reminding us all of why she's one of the best to ever do it.(Photo: Ruffhouse Records/Columbia)
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Lyte as a Rock - Artist: MC Lyte Year: 1988MC Lyte's debut album was anything but light. The Brooklyn rapper delivered stellar cuts throughout her project, including her title track, "Paper Thin," and the seminal "10% Dis," which remains as one of the hardest dis tracks in hip hop history. Lyte pulled no punches from day one and kept that going from album to album.(Photo: Atlantic Records)
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Hard Core - Artist: Lil Kim Year: 1996From Junior M.A.F.I.A. to her own solo show, Lil Kim became a force on her debut album. Kim embodied an early #NoFilter, leaving all inhibitions at the door under the tutelage of the late Notorious B.I.G. She kept her subject matter real and sexually explicit, leaving no room for prudish behavior.(Photo: Big Beat Records)
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Ill Na Na - Artist: Foxy Brown Year: 1996The Firm’s mafioso missus had already been cosigned by rap legends in the making like Nas, Jay Z and LL Cool J on LL's “I Shot Ya (Remix)." Fox Boogie lived up to the hype with a chic, sexy, street-smart debut. Her rhymes ooze with charisma and confidence, and Trackmasters’ glitzy bounce keep heads bobbing, especially on hit singles “Get Me Home” with Blackstreet and the Hov-assisted “I’ll Be.” Simply put, Ill Na Na is ill.(Photo: Def Jam Records)
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Black Reign - Artist: Queen Latifah Year: 1993Queen Latifah's third studio album was by far her most commercially successful project. Her debut brought us the classic track "Ladies First," but Black Reign had the super success known as "U.N.I.T.Y." along with the hood anthem "Just Another Day." The Queen sharpened her teachings this third time around, and the result was a classic.(Photo: Motown Records)
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Supa Dupa Fly - Artist: Missy Elliott Year: 1997Whether rocking an inflated garbage bag or running the red planet with Da Brat, Missy knew how to grab your attention with eye-catching music videos from day one. Beyond bugged-out visuals, the sounds of Supa Dupa Fly are otherworldly, too. Over musical soul mate Timbaland’s knocking electro instrumentals, the Virginia legend seamlessly switches between singing and spitting, injecting raps with one-of-a-kind onomatopoeia flows that ranged from love stories to blunt passing to simply talking smack like no lady lyricist prior.(Photo: Elektra Records)
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Hot, Cool & Vicious - Artist: Salt N Pepa Year: 1986The fact that Salt-N-Pepa are still rhyming along to their hit single "Push It" to this day on Geico commercials and episodes of American Idol is proof that this legendary trio broke new ground with their debut. Their debut was shocking in its approach to hip hop, fueled by spandex and 8-ball jacket aesthetics that urged you to both dance and listen. Sexual liberation and girl power ran rampant, and the effects of that project still echo.(Photo: Next Plateau Records Inc.)
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Pink Friday - Artist: Nicki Minaj Year: 2010Ascending from mixtape all-star to YMCMB’s boss Barbie is no simple task. Yet Nicki Minaj made the leap like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, showing she’s more than punchlines and silly alter egos with Pink Friday. The eclectic debut album built on her clever rhymes by adding full-blown singer moments like “Your Love” and “Right Thru Me.” But the bark and bite are still there; just ask Lil Kim, who caught Nicki’s wrath on “Roman’s Revenge,” which also featured some guy named Eminem.(Photo: Cash Money Records/Universal Motown)
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Jeanius - Artist: Jean Grae Year: 2008Jeanie’s super duper lyrical flows go down oh-so-smoothly paired with soul man 9th Wonder’s sliced and diced samples. “Most of this here is just braggadocio,” Grae 'fesses on “2-32’s,” yet collectively Jeanius gets much deeper, delving into passion and pain. Unfortunately, this third studio LP — originally slated for a 2004 release — leaked prematurely, and was subsequently shelved until 2008. But the boom-bap flavor still hasn’t staled.(Photo: Blacksmith Music)
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