"While hip-hop has historically been the channel designed to give a voice to urban America, women have been effectively left out. Here are some reasons I believe women are missing: The hypermasculinity of hip-hop...corporations don't like to take risks...women aren't demanding a change...men don't care...major media isn't stepping up to the plate (Hawkins)."
I find it interesting that even in the entertainment industry when a female has obvious and recognizable talent they can still have problems getting recognition. There have been a few female artists like Lil' Kim and Trina who are considered female veterans of hip-hop yet even though many people accept this, they still attribute their success to their style of dress and videos where they are scantily dressed. There is no denying the popular saying "Sex sells" but is it really the only way women can climb up the ladder of hip-hop? I think not.
In a male-dominated genre, female hip-hop artists are usually put on the back burner. Only recently have the women in the hip-hop game come to be considered as peers to their male counterparts. Nicki Minaj of Young Money and Diamond are two of the more recent examples of this change. Both ladies are highly recognized by many of the big name male hip-hop artists and have even collaborated with them;they have their own CD's as well.
(The following website goes more in depth about the reasons why the hip-hop genre seems to be so void of female artists: http://www.bvonmoney.com/2010/06/14/hip-hop-industry-female-artists/ )
Sources:
Dr. Boyce Watkins. Why the Hip--Hop Industry Doesn't Support Female Artists. Jun. 2010. Web.
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