R&B Divas Who Impacted Hip Hop

Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and other genre-benders.

Hook Masters - Prior to embarking on trailblazing careers as R&B and pop divas, many of our heralded singing queens spent time in the hip hop labs creating and writing some of the game's biggest hooks and anthems. As we celebrate Black History Month, read on and find out which vixens have stood toe-to-toe with some of the illest MCs.  –– Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photos from Left:  Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc., Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

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Hook Masters - Prior to embarking on trailblazing careers as R&B and pop divas, many of our heralded singing queens spent time in the hip hop labs creating and writing some of the game's biggest hooks and anthems. As we celebrate Black History Month, read on and find out which vixens have stood toe-to-toe with some of the illest MCs.  –– Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photos from Left:  Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc., Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

Mary J. Blige - Mary J. Blige earned her title as "The Queen of Hip Hop Soul" as she came through the ranks of rap before becoming a bonafide R&B diva. Originally singing hooks for '90s star Father MC on the 1992 smash "I'll Do 4 U," Mary would go on to also bless tracks for Jay Z, Grand Puba, Method Man, Ludacris and Talib Kweli just to name a few. It's fair to say Mary is a certified B-girl and you can't knock her hustle.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Mary J. Blige - Mary J. Blige earned her title as "The Queen of Hip Hop Soul" as she came through the ranks of rap before becoming a bonafide R&B diva. Originally singing hooks for '90s star Father MC on the 1992 smash "I'll Do 4 U," Mary would go on to also bless tracks for Jay Z, Grand Puba, Method Man, Ludacris and Talib Kweli just to name a few. It's fair to say Mary is a certified B-girl and you can't knock her hustle.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Kelly Price  - Kelly Price was never signed to Bad Boy but she crafted and sang hooks for some of the label's biggest hits. Her voice can be heard on Biggie's No. 1 heater "Mo Money Mo Problems" as well as "Nasty Boy." She also blessed Ma$e on the chorus of "Feels So Good." Lending her vocals to other future classics like Jigga's "You Must Love Me" earned her the title “The Hip Hop Hook Queen” during her early days in the industry.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Kelly Price  - Kelly Price was never signed to Bad Boy but she crafted and sang hooks for some of the label's biggest hits. Her voice can be heard on Biggie's No. 1 heater "Mo Money Mo Problems" as well as "Nasty Boy." She also blessed Ma$e on the chorus of "Feels So Good." Lending her vocals to other future classics like Jigga's "You Must Love Me" earned her the title “The Hip Hop Hook Queen” during her early days in the industry.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Erykah Badu - An assist by Erykah Badu on "You Got Me" helped The Roots snag a Grammy in 2000 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. She and Common also made magic with "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)" and went on a few platinum adventures with Outkast on cuts like  "Liberation and "Humble Mumble." (Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)

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Erykah Badu - An assist by Erykah Badu on "You Got Me" helped The Roots snag a Grammy in 2000 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. She and Common also made magic with "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)" and went on a few platinum adventures with Outkast on cuts like  "Liberation and "Humble Mumble." (Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)

Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys helped Jay Z craft a new anthem for New York in 2009 with "Empire State of Mind." The multi-platinum selling smash sat at the top of the Billboard charts for five consecutive weeks, gave Hov his first Billboard No. 1 as a lead artist and took home two Grammys. Keys has also rocked out with Drake, Rakim and Nas and delivered some "Gangsta Lovin'" with Eve.(Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images for MTV)

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Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys helped Jay Z craft a new anthem for New York in 2009 with "Empire State of Mind." The multi-platinum selling smash sat at the top of the Billboard charts for five consecutive weeks, gave Hov his first Billboard No. 1 as a lead artist and took home two Grammys. Keys has also rocked out with Drake, Rakim and Nas and delivered some "Gangsta Lovin'" with Eve.(Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images for MTV)

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Ashanti - Ashanti helped Murder Inc. become one of the most respected labels in the early 2000s as she tore up the hip hop and R&B charts. Her hip hop run started with Big Pun's posthumous hit "How We Roll" and then she and Ja Rule went on a platinum run with hits like "Always on Time" and "Mesmerize." She also created timeless dance floor classics like "What's Luv?" with Fat Joe and "Into You" with Fabolous.(Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

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Ashanti - Ashanti helped Murder Inc. become one of the most respected labels in the early 2000s as she tore up the hip hop and R&B charts. Her hip hop run started with Big Pun's posthumous hit "How We Roll" and then she and Ja Rule went on a platinum run with hits like "Always on Time" and "Mesmerize." She also created timeless dance floor classics like "What's Luv?" with Fat Joe and "Into You" with Fabolous.(Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey made a few cinematic vocal performances with some of hip hop's finest as she ushered in the Rap/Pop genre collaborations that still run the game today. Jay Z's "Things That U Do," "U Make Me Wanna" by Jadakiss and Busta Rhyme's "I Know What You Want" are just a few. She also tore down the game with a gang of her own classic hip hop remixes, including "Fantasy" with Ol' D.B. and "Heartbreaker" with Da Brat and Missy Elliott.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey made a few cinematic vocal performances with some of hip hop's finest as she ushered in the Rap/Pop genre collaborations that still run the game today. Jay Z's "Things That U Do," "U Make Me Wanna" by Jadakiss and Busta Rhyme's "I Know What You Want" are just a few. She also tore down the game with a gang of her own classic hip hop remixes, including "Fantasy" with Ol' D.B. and "Heartbreaker" with Da Brat and Missy Elliott.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Kelis - Kelis burst on the scene singing hooks for The Neptunes on a few of their production projects like Ol' Dirty's last hit "Got Your Money" in 1999 and the Clipse's "When The Last Time." The "Milkshake" singer made her name ring even louder in the hip hop arena by boasting a gang of collaborations with the likes of Busta Rhymes, will.I.am, Diddy and her ex-husband Nas on stellar tracks like "American Way" and "Not Going Back." (Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

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Kelis - Kelis burst on the scene singing hooks for The Neptunes on a few of their production projects like Ol' Dirty's last hit "Got Your Money" in 1999 and the Clipse's "When The Last Time." The "Milkshake" singer made her name ring even louder in the hip hop arena by boasting a gang of collaborations with the likes of Busta Rhymes, will.I.am, Diddy and her ex-husband Nas on stellar tracks like "American Way" and "Not Going Back." (Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Faith Evans - Bad Boy's former first lady left her vocal prints on the game early as she collaborated with her late husband on "One More Chance" and A Tribe Called Quest on "Stressed Out." In 1998, Faith and Diddy took home a Grammy for the Biggie tribute "I'll Be Missing You." A few more of her powerful impacts include mellowing DMX out on "How's It Goin' Down" and Eve's domestic abuse awareness track "Love Is Blind."(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for BET)

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Faith Evans - Bad Boy's former first lady left her vocal prints on the game early as she collaborated with her late husband on "One More Chance" and A Tribe Called Quest on "Stressed Out." In 1998, Faith and Diddy took home a Grammy for the Biggie tribute "I'll Be Missing You." A few more of her powerful impacts include mellowing DMX out on "How's It Goin' Down" and Eve's domestic abuse awareness track "Love Is Blind."(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for BET)

Rihanna - RiRi has been burning up the hip hop charts for quite some time now as she led Jay Z, Kanye West, and Eminem to multiple Grammy wins for "Run This Town," "All of the Lights" and "The Monster." A few more of her island gal vocals can be found on Billboard hits like T.I.'s "Live Your Life" and Drake's "Take Care," while she also got "Fly" with Nicki Minaj on their female empowerment anthem.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for DirecTV)

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Rihanna - RiRi has been burning up the hip hop charts for quite some time now as she led Jay Z, Kanye West, and Eminem to multiple Grammy wins for "Run This Town," "All of the Lights" and "The Monster." A few more of her island gal vocals can be found on Billboard hits like T.I.'s "Live Your Life" and Drake's "Take Care," while she also got "Fly" with Nicki Minaj on their female empowerment anthem.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for DirecTV)

Destiny's Child - The ladies of Destiny's Child set their hip hop tone early, teaming up with Wyclef Jean vocally for the remix to their first single, "No, No, No" (he was behind the boards for the original) and mastering the crossover hook with album cuts for Cam'Ron, 50 Cent and Silkk the Shocker.Branching off like their careers, Kelly Rowland went on to shine on tracks like "Here We Go" with Trina and won a Grammy with Nelly for "Dilemma" in 2003 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. And Beyoncé rocked out with her husband Jay Z on tracks that include "03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Hollywood," as well as with femme fatales Missy Elliott, Free, MC Lyte and Nicki Minaj while also making Ghostface have a memorable "Summertime."(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) 

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Destiny's Child - The ladies of Destiny's Child set their hip hop tone early, teaming up with Wyclef Jean vocally for the remix to their first single, "No, No, No" (he was behind the boards for the original) and mastering the crossover hook with album cuts for Cam'Ron, 50 Cent and Silkk the Shocker.Branching off like their careers, Kelly Rowland went on to shine on tracks like "Here We Go" with Trina and won a Grammy with Nelly for "Dilemma" in 2003 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. And Beyoncé rocked out with her husband Jay Z on tracks that include "03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Hollywood," as well as with femme fatales Missy Elliott, Free, MC Lyte and Nicki Minaj while also making Ghostface have a memorable "Summertime."(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)