Ladies First: The 10 Best Videos by Female MCs

Women in hip-hop have always had a hard time proving themselves equals to the men. But some of rap’s pioneering women rose to the challenge with talent, lyricism, innovation and flow that made them heroines to their fans.

Sadly, the girl power that hip-hop once represented has been lost in a sea of plastic surgery and posturing women concerned more with style than skills. And several have fallen prey to their own demons, ending up in jail or obscurity or never regaining their former genius.

In memory of the days when rap’s females stood proudly beside their male counterparts, we offer the top best 10 hip-hop videos made by women.

LI’L KIM, “CRUSH ON YOU” (1997)

Kim and Li’l Cease of Junior M.A.F.I.A. are entertaining in this video about the joys of crushing on someone. The changing set colors and matching multi-colored wigs earned this video classic status within hours of its release. It’s truly too bad that some of the colorful videos of this era weren’t shot in HD. (It didn’t exist yet!) While younger fans may view Kim as the queen of scary plastic surgery who keeps throwing weak shots at Nikki Minaj, some of us still remember her as the Queen Bee who once ruled the game.

EVE, “LOVE IS BLIND” (1999)

Back when Eve had short hair and never wore bras, she was at her best. In this video, Eve proved why women in hip-hop were so crucial at one time – to bring light to situations like domestic violence. Eve was one of the first rappers male or female to bring the issue to the forefront via a rap song, and both the song and the video are powerful. Faith Evans contributes a stunning lead vocal. “Love is Blind” is proof that hip-hop could entertain and educate at the same time.

MISSY ELLIOTT, “SUPA DUPA FLY” (1997)

This quintessential Hype Williams video put Missy Elliot on the map. Her Michelin man suit, the fish-eye camera, the then-new visual effects and guest appearances by SWV, LI’l Kim, 702, Total and more made this video one of hip-hop’s most popular. Combine that with a cleverly used sample (of Ann Peebles’ 60’s hit) and Missy’s on-camera charisma, and you understand why this is still among one hip-hop’s best videos ever.

QUEEN LATIFAH, “U.N.I.T.Y.” (1993)

Queen Latifah’s ode to feminine empowerment cemented her as one of hip-hop’s most powerful females. She had the nerve to ask, “Who you callin’ a bitch?” and fans responded loudly to her refusal to be degraded. Latifah would go on to make other hits and eventually carve out a nice career as a movie star, but it was this hit song that put her firmly on the map.

FOXY BROWN, “I’LL BE” (1996)

Foxy Brown was once the don dada of hip-hop, but recent years have brought some drama to the woman who took her moniker from the famed Pam Grier movie. In this video, with Jay-Z, Fox Boogie was in her element, rapping about her sex drive (“All night like a trucker”) in a hot purple dress with cutout sides while a baby-faced Jigga co-signs.

YO-YO, “DON’T PLAY WITH MY YO-YO” (1991)

The West Coast representer herself, Yo-Yo managed to outshine Ice Cube on this funky track that asserted female independence. Yo-Yo was one of the most respected female rap stars on any coast, but hailing form L.A. during the gangsta rap era meant she really had to be on her game. Thankfully, she was. While the original video is unavailable on You Tube, …..

….. here’s a live version of it with Ice Cube.

SALT N PEPA, “WHATTA MAN” (1994)

There are so many Salt N Pepa videos you could choose from, but this one combined not just the reigning female hip-hop group of the time, but the reigning female singing group as well. Not to mention, there were cameos from Tupac Shakur and Pepa’s then-love Treach of Naughty By Nature. These ladies’ fabulous ode to those few good men – the ones “with a body like Arnold with a Denzel face” – is one of hip-hop’s best ever.

VARIOUS ARTISTS, “FREEDOM” (1994)

This underrated video has been somewhat forgotten by hip-hop history, maybe because the movie it was from – “Panther” – didn’t do all that well at the box ofice. But the “Freedom- Rap version” represented a monumental moment in hip-hop – one in which just about every important female in the music world is represented. Two All-star versions of the song were done – a song featuring TLC, Zhane, Vanessa Williams, Monica, Aaliyah, Me’Shell Ndegeocello and more, as well as the rap version featuring Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, Left Eye, MC Lyte, Patra, Salt N Pepa, Nefertiti and Ndegeocello. The rap version represented here features Left Eye’s best rap verse ever, aside from “Waterfalls.”

MC LYTE, “RUFFNECK” (1993)

The always fabulous MC Lyte made a lot of great records, but “Ruffneck” may have been her biggest overall hit. Though the song plays up the kind of “thug lovin’” that isn’t so great in reality, the track and Lyte’ s delivery are undeniable. Though Lyte would go on to do other things, including act, she’s still one of hip-hop’s most respected female artists of all time. This video showcases her skills.

LAURYN HILL, “DOO WOP (THAT THING)” (1998)

Lauryn Hill ignited the world with her 1998 debut CD, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” setting a then-record for Grammy wins in one night. She seemed just as amazed as anyone else, accepting a Grammy that night with the statement “Wow, this is crazy … this is hip-hop.” And so it was until Hill’s personal challenges forced her out of the spotlight. Thirteen years later, this song and this album are still just as relevant, and Hill’s tremendous talents are still evident. She may never recover her earlier artistic or commercial success, but fortunately, we have this still amazing debut to console us.