Notes From the Underground

These femcees may not be chart toppers | but they command respect in the underground.

Rah Digga - Some mistook Digga for a male on her first few guest verses. Not because of her rugged vocal tone, but because of her razor sharp lyrics. Her "Dirty Harriet" LP left fans wanting more, but her follow up was shelved despite the release of a promising "Party & Bullsh*t" remake. Look for Digga to finally drop her second album, "Classic," this year.

1 / 10

Rah Digga - Some mistook Digga for a male on her first few guest verses. Not because of her rugged vocal tone, but because of her razor sharp lyrics. Her "Dirty Harriet" LP left fans wanting more, but her follow up was shelved despite the release of a promising "Party & Bullsh*t" remake. Look for Digga to finally drop her second album, "Classic," this year.

Lady Luck - LL was signed to a lucrative Def Jam deal at only 17 after dropping a series of impressive freestytles on New York's Hot 97. Her debut, "Turn My Mic On," was shelved. Post Def Jam, Luck kept the lights on by battling. She squared off against Remy Ma in a well documented battle.

2 / 10

Lady Luck - LL was signed to a lucrative Def Jam deal at only 17 after dropping a series of impressive freestytles on New York's Hot 97. Her debut, "Turn My Mic On," was shelved. Post Def Jam, Luck kept the lights on by battling. She squared off against Remy Ma in a well documented battle.

Tiye Phoenix - Tiye's part of the Polyrhythm Addicts with underground vets Mr. Complex, DJ Spinna and Shabaam Sahdeeq. She was also featured on Rawkus Records' "Hip-Hop For Respect EP," a compilation to speak against police brutality. Tiye recently won Female Artist of the Year at the 2010 Underground Music Awards.

3 / 10

Tiye Phoenix - Tiye's part of the Polyrhythm Addicts with underground vets Mr. Complex, DJ Spinna and Shabaam Sahdeeq. She was also featured on Rawkus Records' "Hip-Hop For Respect EP," a compilation to speak against police brutality. Tiye recently won Female Artist of the Year at the 2010 Underground Music Awards.

Lady of Rage - Though part of Death Row Records in its heyday, one of the most commercially successful labels in hip-hop history, Rage always delivered every rhyme like she was in a cypher. She cultivated a healthy buzz through standout appearances on classics like Dr.Dre's "The Chronic" and Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle," but Death Row was disintegrating by the time her long awaited debut, "Necessary Roughness" was ready to hit stores. She may have never gotten the shine she deserved, but to this day there's no di

4 / 10

Lady of Rage - Though part of Death Row Records in its heyday, one of the most commercially successful labels in hip-hop history, Rage always delivered every rhyme like she was in a cypher. She cultivated a healthy buzz through standout appearances on classics like Dr.Dre's "The Chronic" and Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle," but Death Row was disintegrating by the time her long awaited debut, "Necessary Roughness" was ready to hit stores. She may have never gotten the shine she deserved, but to this day there's no di

Bahamadia - Back by production from DJ Premier, Guru, The Roots and Da Beatminerz Bahamadia established herself as a lyrical force to be reckoned with, with her debut, "Kollage" in 1996. She still releases music independently and tours today.

5 / 10

Bahamadia - Back by production from DJ Premier, Guru, The Roots and Da Beatminerz Bahamadia established herself as a lyrical force to be reckoned with, with her debut, "Kollage" in 1996. She still releases music independently and tours today.

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Mystic - Mystic was just what the doctor ordered when she dropped "Current Events" back in 2001. Though in the early stages of Lauryn Hill's absence at the time, hip-hop was alredy begging for a socially aware female artist who can belt out a tune just as easily as she can spit a 16. Prayers appeared to be answered when Mystic released the buzzworthy "The Life," but her debut, "Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom" never came close to doing L-Boogie numbers. She still earned a Grammy nod for "W."

6 / 10

Mystic - Mystic was just what the doctor ordered when she dropped "Current Events" back in 2001. Though in the early stages of Lauryn Hill's absence at the time, hip-hop was alredy begging for a socially aware female artist who can belt out a tune just as easily as she can spit a 16. Prayers appeared to be answered when Mystic released the buzzworthy "The Life," but her debut, "Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom" never came close to doing L-Boogie numbers. She still earned a Grammy nod for "W."

Ladybug Mecca - Ladybug's possibly the reason the two men and a lady concept exists in hip-hop.Sure, The Fugees popularized the idea, but Ladybug was the original fly chick standing out amongst dudes. Digable Planet's first CD, "Reachin' (A Refutation of Time and Space)" and won a Grammy but the group's follow up, "Blowout Comb" fell on deaf ears. She still records and tours to this day.

7 / 10

Ladybug Mecca - Ladybug's possibly the reason the two men and a lady concept exists in hip-hop.Sure, The Fugees popularized the idea, but Ladybug was the original fly chick standing out amongst dudes. Digable Planet's first CD, "Reachin' (A Refutation of Time and Space)" and won a Grammy but the group's follow up, "Blowout Comb" fell on deaf ears. She still records and tours to this day.

Jacki-O - Miami's Madame is more concerned with chanel bags than sucker MCs, but she's been releasing music independently throughout her career.

8 / 10

Jacki-O - Miami's Madame is more concerned with chanel bags than sucker MCs, but she's been releasing music independently throughout her career.

Hurricane G - No one gets to rhyme along Redman and Keith Murray without being able to hock some serious spit, women included. Enter Hurricane G, the one who told Redman to get off that "punk smooth sh*t" in "Tonight's Da Night." Hurricane made a name for herself by doing cameos with Red, Xzibit, Erick Sermon, Cocoa Brovaz and Diddy, among others. Her debut "All Woman" received a lukewarm reception when it dropped in '97.

9 / 10

Hurricane G - No one gets to rhyme along Redman and Keith Murray without being able to hock some serious spit, women included. Enter Hurricane G, the one who told Redman to get off that "punk smooth sh*t" in "Tonight's Da Night." Hurricane made a name for herself by doing cameos with Red, Xzibit, Erick Sermon, Cocoa Brovaz and Diddy, among others. Her debut "All Woman" received a lukewarm reception when it dropped in '97.

Jean Grae - Arguably one of the most lyrically gifted femcees to emerge since Lauryn Hill, the rapstress formerly known as What? What? doesn't waste any lines. She's had a successfull indie career and has toured across the globe for the past decade. Her "Jeanius" LP, an album entirely produced by 9th Wonder, is considered a cult classic in underground circles.

10 / 10

Jean Grae - Arguably one of the most lyrically gifted femcees to emerge since Lauryn Hill, the rapstress formerly known as What? What? doesn't waste any lines. She's had a successfull indie career and has toured across the globe for the past decade. Her "Jeanius" LP, an album entirely produced by 9th Wonder, is considered a cult classic in underground circles.