Why do you think, especially in the hip hop and grime scene it’ s so heavily male dominated?
I think it is a masculine genre. Soul music is " softer " and is traditionally something that you would expect to hear a woman singing. Hip Hop, from the beats to the concepts are harder and more aggressive. These are traits that you would associate with men. Over the years, because there have been so few female rappers that have made an impact but yet there have been so many men, we as women are at a disadvantage because there isn’ t the history that the men have. The men can go back and they can find more role models; Jay Z, Nas, Tupac, Biggie, Big Daddy Kane, whereas female MCs, in terms of significant break through, don’ t have the same sort of history before Lil Kim and Foxy.
Photograph by: Habiba Khanam
For me, my role model is Missy because she produced her own beats and produced beats for other people. Do you think she ' s an inspiration?
Missy along with Lauryn Hill, in terms of female rappers and musicians, what I love about Missy and Lauryn Hill is that it didn’ t just stop at writing bars, they would carry a tune or they ' d co produce and yes, they are both definitely an inspiration for me.
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Finally, do you have any inspiring words for ladies trying to do their thing as rappers?
My advice would be don’ t ever let someone tell you can’ t do something, just because no one has done it before doesn’ t mean you can’ t be the first. Those negative comments have to be like water off a ducks back. They probably come from people who couldn’ t do it themselves. I mean be self-critical and take advise from people you trust, don’ t be like those people who come on x factor and they ' re really bad. If everyone ' s saying it then maybe find a different hobby
Written by: Jemma McLean
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