Hip hop has always been a predominantly male art form, especially at its top tier. The more recognized and mainstream hip hop artists get, the fewer the number of female rappers there are. Indeed it seems at any given time only one or two female rappers are given the exposure and recognition of male counterparts as far as record deals, promotions and radio play. 

Right now the female rapper is Nicki Minaj, just as Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill and Lil’ Kim all were at one time or another. But just because there is always one female rapper garnering any sort of attention from the media and mainstream music industry doesn‰’t mean there aren‰’t other women spitting bars and grinding away to achieve success and recognition of their own. Here is a spotlight of three female MC‰’s you may or may not have heard of but should definitely check out.

Dej Loaf

Courtesy of radio.com.

Only 23 and hailing from Detroit, Dej Loaf‰’s single “Try Me‰” went viral after a Drake shout out. The song‰’s catchy hook and honest lyrics secured Dej a deal with Columbia Records. However, the other songs off her self-released debut Sell Sole combine similar melodic crooning with blunt storytelling and show Dej‰’s real talent, showing promise for a more thoroughly produced and well-laid album.

Angel Haze

Courtesy of hotnewhiphop.

Angel Haze is also from Detroit and also very young, just 22. Haze first gained recognition after releasing the EP Reservations, where she combined smooth and almost pop-like sounds in some places, like on “Drop It,‰” with a very gifted lyrical flow and unique voice, for example on the track “New York.‰” Similarly, on her 2013 album Dirty Gold, Haze has combined the best elements of pop, hip hop and R&B to create hits like “A Tribe Called Red‰” and “Battle Cry‰” featuring Sia. At only 22, with several solid projects already under her belt, it will be interesting to see what Haze chooses to do next.

Rapsody

Courtesy of WatchLoud.

Rapsody is a 27 year old rapper from North Carolina who just recently received attention for landing the only rap feature on Kendrick Lamar‰’s highly acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly. The song itself, entitled “Complexion (A Zulu Love),” is an anthem that showcases Rapsody‰’s clever lyricism as well as natural flow all while delivering a socially conscious message. These talents are even more obvious on her most recent mixtape She Got Game. Rapsody goes bar for bar with notable guest features including Raekwon, Ab-Soul and Chance the Rapper. Rapsody‰’s calm tone and ’90s influence make her able to rap about many subjects on the project, giving listeners a glimpse into and connection with her thoughts.