Hip Hop Videos Every Feminist Must Watch

The list includes Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, Tink and more.

The Feminine Mystique - Think hip hop is just a man's game? Try again. The art form has had ties to feminism since its inception, and now more than ever women are claiming their rightful place in rap history. As we celebrate the achievements of Black women at Black Girls Rock!, here's a look at hip hop videos every feminist must watch.(Photos from left: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety, Robin Marchant/Getty Images, Brad Barket/Getty Images for New York Magazine)

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The Feminine Mystique - Think hip hop is just a man's game? Try again. The art form has had ties to feminism since its inception, and now more than ever women are claiming their rightful place in rap history. As we celebrate the achievements of Black women at Black Girls Rock!, here's a look at hip hop videos every feminist must watch.(Photos from left: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety, Robin Marchant/Getty Images, Brad Barket/Getty Images for New York Magazine)

Queen Latifah, "Ladies First" - This track from Latifah's album All Hail the Queen is one of the most uplifting feminist anthems of all time. From the first time she says, "Let me state the position: Ladies first, yes?" Latifah makes it clear that her goal is to elevate women — not in comparison to men, but just elevate in general. When she later adds, "Believe me when I say being a woman is great," it's clear that her cause is not to fight oppression but to celebrate everything that being a woman has to offer.(Photo: QueenLatifahVEVO via YouTube)

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Queen Latifah, "Ladies First" - This track from Latifah's album All Hail the Queen is one of the most uplifting feminist anthems of all time. From the first time she says, "Let me state the position: Ladies first, yes?" Latifah makes it clear that her goal is to elevate women — not in comparison to men, but just elevate in general. When she later adds, "Believe me when I say being a woman is great," it's clear that her cause is not to fight oppression but to celebrate everything that being a woman has to offer.(Photo: QueenLatifahVEVO via YouTube)

Salt N Pepa, "Push It" - In the late 80's, Salt 'n' Pepa was on the cutting edge of a cultural and feminist revolution. They were among the first female rappers to have hits in hip hop and on the pop charts. Anybody who grew up in that era will remember "Push It," their ditty celebrating sexuality that drew a clear line between generations: young people loved it, and their parents cringed. Salt n’ Pepa, showed us women could not only rap but also work the turntables, told us to shake our thing without shame and judgment and that we could have whatever we want and express ourselves in any way we please. Now, get up on that!(Photo: SaltNPeppaVEVO)

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Salt N Pepa, "Push It" - In the late 80's, Salt 'n' Pepa was on the cutting edge of a cultural and feminist revolution. They were among the first female rappers to have hits in hip hop and on the pop charts. Anybody who grew up in that era will remember "Push It," their ditty celebrating sexuality that drew a clear line between generations: young people loved it, and their parents cringed. Salt n’ Pepa, showed us women could not only rap but also work the turntables, told us to shake our thing without shame and judgment and that we could have whatever we want and express ourselves in any way we please. Now, get up on that!(Photo: SaltNPeppaVEVO)

Queen Latifah, "U.N.I.T.Y." - This rapper and actress made history when she won a Grammy for her groundbreaking hit in 1995. The song spoke out against domestic violence and the objectification of Black female sexuality. “U.N.I.T.Y.” began a conversation in the Black community about the treatment of women, both on the street and behind closed doors. (Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety)

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Queen Latifah, "U.N.I.T.Y." - This rapper and actress made history when she won a Grammy for her groundbreaking hit in 1995. The song spoke out against domestic violence and the objectification of Black female sexuality. “U.N.I.T.Y.” began a conversation in the Black community about the treatment of women, both on the street and behind closed doors. (Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety)

Lil' Kim, "No Matter What They Say" - Though Kim's lyrics, sexuality and lifestyle have sparked plenty of debate over whether or not she should be considered a feminist, there's no denying the Queen Bee is in control of it all. "No matter what people think / we got it going on / who cares what they think / we are the number one," she raps in this track that's all about owning our complexities.(Photo: Atlantic Records via YouTube)

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Lil' Kim, "No Matter What They Say" - Though Kim's lyrics, sexuality and lifestyle have sparked plenty of debate over whether or not she should be considered a feminist, there's no denying the Queen Bee is in control of it all. "No matter what people think / we got it going on / who cares what they think / we are the number one," she raps in this track that's all about owning our complexities.(Photo: Atlantic Records via YouTube)

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Tink, "Around the Clock" - Timbaland's teenage protege is being hailed as the next iconic femcee by nearly everyone in the know. This single introduces the world to a talent confident beyond her years, and completely unapologetic for it." Don't care if you offended/ I know you heard my name/ I'm just waiting for you to diss it," she raps.(Photo: TinkVEVO via YouTube)

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Tink, "Around the Clock" - Timbaland's teenage protege is being hailed as the next iconic femcee by nearly everyone in the know. This single introduces the world to a talent confident beyond her years, and completely unapologetic for it." Don't care if you offended/ I know you heard my name/ I'm just waiting for you to diss it," she raps.(Photo: TinkVEVO via YouTube)

Nicki Minaj, "Anaconda" - Nicki Minaj's brand of feminism isn't what most people — especially the card-carrying establishment — expects or are comfortable with. Thankfully, she doesn't care. The rapper sparked a huge debate over what feminists have a right to do with their bodies with this hit single, which turns the tables on objectification. (Photo: NickiMinajAtVEVO via YouTube)

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Nicki Minaj, "Anaconda" - Nicki Minaj's brand of feminism isn't what most people — especially the card-carrying establishment — expects or are comfortable with. Thankfully, she doesn't care. The rapper sparked a huge debate over what feminists have a right to do with their bodies with this hit single, which turns the tables on objectification. (Photo: NickiMinajAtVEVO via YouTube)

Detroit Che, "Talk My S**t" - After making her mark at the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher in 2014, this Motor City MC dropped her first mixtape and this track, which was a collaboration with her friend Jaye Prime, made waves. The comparisons to Kendrick Lamar didn't hurt, either.(Photo: DetroitChe via YouTube)

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Detroit Che, "Talk My S**t" - After making her mark at the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher in 2014, this Motor City MC dropped her first mixtape and this track, which was a collaboration with her friend Jaye Prime, made waves. The comparisons to Kendrick Lamar didn't hurt, either.(Photo: DetroitChe via YouTube)

Angel Haze, "Battle Cry" - The Detroit rapper bares her soul with this track, in which she reveals her childhood in a cult and the abuse she endured as a young woman, and inflicted upon herself as a coping mechanism. The accompanying video is as gritty and raw as they come, and those are two words frequently used to describe this rapper.(Photo: AngelHazeVEVO via YouTube)

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Angel Haze, "Battle Cry" - The Detroit rapper bares her soul with this track, in which she reveals her childhood in a cult and the abuse she endured as a young woman, and inflicted upon herself as a coping mechanism. The accompanying video is as gritty and raw as they come, and those are two words frequently used to describe this rapper.(Photo: AngelHazeVEVO via YouTube)

Erykah Badu, "Love of My Life" - Mz. Badu has often used her sultry vocals to bring listeners into another side of the Black female experience: one littered with deadbeat ex-boyfriends, heartbreak and regret, but in which the strength of a woman always perseveres. "Love of My Life" is, according to Badu, an ode to hip hop, but it may as well be a serenade to a woman's inner self and embracing all the flaws that make us the most complex creatures on the earth.(Photo: ErykahBaduVEVO via YouTube)

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Erykah Badu, "Love of My Life" - Mz. Badu has often used her sultry vocals to bring listeners into another side of the Black female experience: one littered with deadbeat ex-boyfriends, heartbreak and regret, but in which the strength of a woman always perseveres. "Love of My Life" is, according to Badu, an ode to hip hop, but it may as well be a serenade to a woman's inner self and embracing all the flaws that make us the most complex creatures on the earth.(Photo: ErykahBaduVEVO via YouTube)

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Missy Elliott, "Get UR Freak On" - There are so many feminist messages packed into every Missy Elliott track — from embracing girl power to accepting our bodies in all shapes and sizes — but one of the most powerful, and consistent, themes in the rapper and producer's music is a refusal to apologize for sexuality, even if that's what a woman chooses to use to pay the bills. (Photo: Atlantic Records via YouTube)

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Missy Elliott, "Get UR Freak On" - There are so many feminist messages packed into every Missy Elliott track — from embracing girl power to accepting our bodies in all shapes and sizes — but one of the most powerful, and consistent, themes in the rapper and producer's music is a refusal to apologize for sexuality, even if that's what a woman chooses to use to pay the bills. (Photo: Atlantic Records via YouTube)

Rapsody, "Believe Me" - One of the most thought-provoking lyricists in hip hop, this track is a perfect example of Rapsody's worldview executed over a signature 9th Wonder beat. In the track, the rapper rhymes about how much harder it is to survive as a female in the game and even shouts out her fellow artist Lauryn Hill, who she says "ain't crazy, you just don't know what she been through."(Photo: RapsodyVEVO via YouTube)

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Rapsody, "Believe Me" - One of the most thought-provoking lyricists in hip hop, this track is a perfect example of Rapsody's worldview executed over a signature 9th Wonder beat. In the track, the rapper rhymes about how much harder it is to survive as a female in the game and even shouts out her fellow artist Lauryn Hill, who she says "ain't crazy, you just don't know what she been through."(Photo: RapsodyVEVO via YouTube)

Lady of Rage, "Afro Puffs" - Unapologetic and full of the kind of bravado we have come to expect from male rappers, this West Coast MC got her start dropping her sick flow on a number for a number of Death Row artists, including Snoop and Dre. She finally debuted her own album, Necessary Roughness, in 1997 and "Afro Puffs" quickly gained steam as a feminist ode to confidence and natural hair. Though it rarely appears on shortlists of the best of girl power rap, we think this track has a place in her-story.(Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Lady of Rage, "Afro Puffs" - Unapologetic and full of the kind of bravado we have come to expect from male rappers, this West Coast MC got her start dropping her sick flow on a number for a number of Death Row artists, including Snoop and Dre. She finally debuted her own album, Necessary Roughness, in 1997 and "Afro Puffs" quickly gained steam as a feminist ode to confidence and natural hair. Though it rarely appears on shortlists of the best of girl power rap, we think this track has a place in her-story.(Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Trick Daddy ft. Trina, "Nann N****" - Then just a young woman with a real estate license trying to make a buck, Trina was plucked from obscurity by Trick Daddy and ended up going toe-to-toe with the Southern hip hop icon in this classic hit. The rest, of course, is history, and Trina secured her place in the canon of rap.(Photo: Trina via YouTube)

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Trick Daddy ft. Trina, "Nann N****" - Then just a young woman with a real estate license trying to make a buck, Trina was plucked from obscurity by Trick Daddy and ended up going toe-to-toe with the Southern hip hop icon in this classic hit. The rest, of course, is history, and Trina secured her place in the canon of rap.(Photo: Trina via YouTube)

Lauryn Hill, "Everything is Everything" - Ms. Hill is the biggest piece of unfinished business in modern hip hop history, eliciting both deep respect and extreme sadness from those who feel she never lived up to her monumental potential. But if there is one album on which an entire legacy can be built, it's the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This lead single from the album was like therapy, and those who listened closely could find answers — or, at least empowerment — for everything that ailed them.(Photo: LaurynHillVEVO via YouTube)

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Lauryn Hill, "Everything is Everything" - Ms. Hill is the biggest piece of unfinished business in modern hip hop history, eliciting both deep respect and extreme sadness from those who feel she never lived up to her monumental potential. But if there is one album on which an entire legacy can be built, it's the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This lead single from the album was like therapy, and those who listened closely could find answers — or, at least empowerment — for everything that ailed them.(Photo: LaurynHillVEVO via YouTube)