MC Lyte's 'Lyte as a Rock' or Queen Latifah's 'All Hail the Queen'?

I would like to send a personal salute to the female rappers that’s doing their thing. I’ve always felt that the game needed balance in terms of male and female spitters. We may not approve of the content and imagery some are projecting, but every rapper — male and female — has a core audience whom they have to cater to. Besides, I’m sure they’re not concerned about a person that’s not a fan.

Anyways, I would also like to send a personal salute to the females rappers that paved the way such as MC Lyte and Queen Latifah. Let’s take a look at their debuts, Lyte as a Rock and All Hail the Queen, respectively.

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Lyte dropped Lyte as a Rock in 1988. During that time, Hip Hop was male dominate. However, Lyte’s bars, rap-tone, and cadence demanded attention. She wasted no time giving us the aforementioned on the Ashford and Simpson–sampled title track. “Get out my face, I don’t wanna hear no more,” she spits. “If you hate rejection don’t try to score.”

Lyte would throw a few shots at Antoinette, a foe emcee, on “10% Dis.”

“You a beat biter, dope style taker,” Lyte spits. “I tell you to your face, you ain’t nothing but a faker.” The bars would influenced E.D.I. Mean of the Outlawz (“Hit’ Em Up”).

Other than Lyte proven she belonged among the best of the B-Boys, one of her other strengths was the storytelling involving relationships. It was on full display on tracks such as “I Cram To Understand U (Sam)” and “Paper Thin.”

Audio Two handled most of the album’s production.

Lyte as a Rock peaked at the 50 spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Queen Latifah’s All Hail the Queen dropped a year later. If any questioned if Latifah could strengthen the lady MC’s alumni, she silenced the skeptics with “Dance for Me,” the album’s opening track.

“This MC stands for ‘Microphone Commando,'” Queen spits. “When I command that you take a hand/And throw it up in the air, yeah, just like that now/Chill, and watch me rap cause I’m flowing/Just like water I slaughter/A battle, put me in it, I win it/The mission is music and rhythm/Rhythm backed by words, all in my system.”

The ’80s was the B-Boy era, in which we danced. Latifah infused Hip Hop with House Music to create a nice dance cut, “Come into My house.”

All Hail the Queen would be the bearer of the ultimate feminist anthem, “Ladies First” featuring Monie Love.

Other elements were infused for creation such as Jazz, Reggae, and harmony, which came from the vocals of Latifah herself. It was one of the more balance Hip Hop albums of the era.

All Hail the Queen peaked at the number 6 spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified Gold.

Again, I would like to send a personal salute to the females rappers such as MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, among others, for paving the way.