Hip-hop is a tough game in which only the best survive. From the early days of the male-dominated genre, female rappers have proved that women, though few in numbers, are fearless, strong especially when unified and are not only capable of standing as tall as the next man but also of outshining them.
Many female rhymers, from Queen Latifah to Nicki Minaj, have destroyed the proverbial glass ceiling to become legends in their own right. In celebration of women's history month, we're spotlighting 31 of the greatest female rappers of all time over a 31-day series, kicking off with an interview with MC Lyte. Come back each day in March for a new profile.
Day 7: Monie Love
In the late 1980s, Monie Love journeyed across the pond to sprinkle British flavor on hip-hop. A member of the Native Tongues, she became a part of the force behind hip-hop's women empowerment and served a dose of reality. Her soul continues to burn with hunger – mixing music and activism – as she prepares to return to England later this year for the first time in 15 years.
Beginnings
"A gentleman by the name of Dave Kline, we used to call him Bump-N-Kline, worked for Rush Management. He used to bring a lot hip-hop artists abroad to do shows in England and the UK. On a particular trip, he brought over The Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah and others to do a series of shows in and around England. I went to one of those shows and Dave Kline was familiar with me because I had been making noise in the underground scene in England. He introduced me to the artists he brought over. Queen Latifah and I struck up a friendship from there. That was in late '87."
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