Female Artist and Producers Role in the Culture of Hip-Hop Music - Essay Sample

Introduction

Female artist and producers play a significant role in the culture of hip-hop music (Pough 13). Some of the top rappers in the hip-hop genre include Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Da Brat and Eve among others. Apart from the songwriters and artists, female MCs like MC Lyte have significantly contributed to the shaping of hip-hop music.

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Melissa Arnette Elliot, professionally known as Missy Eliot, is one of the most influential hip-hop female artists. She was born in 1971, and since then, she has been a dancer, songwriter, producer, actress, and wrapper. Elliot began her career in the 1990s after joining Sista, an R&B group but later became a member of the Swing Mob. After some time, Eliot embarked on her solo career, and in 1997, she released her first album Supa Dupa Fly. The debut album mentioned above made it to the top twenty single "Sock It 2 Me." Her album was ranked third on the Billboard 200, and it became the best female release during that era. In 1999, the artist released another album "Da Real World" which contained singles such as "She's a Bitch" and "All n My Grill." For eighteen weeks, Eliot' second album topped the US R&B chart, and it remained at the top position from 4th December to 25th March 2000.

Commercially, Melissa Eliot had the most female album sales during the late 1990s and early 2000. The album sales were approximately seven million copies. Eliot incorporated various experimental concepts in her music videos and therefore transformed what was perceived to be the central theme of hip-hop during that period. The issues addressed in her various catalogues include feminism, sexual and body positivity, and gender equality (Pough 93). In summary, Eliot has revolutionized the hip-hop industry and culture with her studio albums. Many people believe that she set an example by creating a path for the hip-hop industry towards their independence. For instance, the record, Supa Dupa Fly is viewed as a game-changer for women all over the world since the artist refused to be identified and judged with her image. In 2019, Mellissa Arnette Elliot became the first female hip-hop rapper to be admitted to the songwriter's hall of fame.

Apart from her style in rap and music, Eliot has a unique fashion taste. For instance, during the production of her first video with Hype Williams, the artist dressed in a black garbage bag. In the many years of her career, Eliot dresses in killer outfits, and she is crowned as one of the most creative female artists of all time. However, even though her looks may not seem fashionable to man people, the artist strays from the ordinary and regular when it comes to dressing. For example, she is not afraid of wearing bandanas although people have a nostalgic feeling about that kind of fashion.

Missy Eliot has several key releases. The artist's discography is composed of six studio albums, twenty solo music videos, and seventy-four singles. The video albums include the Supa Dupa Fly, Da Real World, Miss E so addictive, Under Construction, "This is Not a Test", and the Cookbook. The Cookbook album debuted at the second position on the Billboard 200, and it had sold about 657,000 copies in the United States during the first week of release. The artist is also featured in forty-eight single songs recorded by other artists.

Works Cited

Pough, Gwendolyn D. Check it while I wreck it: Black womanhood, hip-hop culture, and the public sphere. Northeastern University Press, 2015.