The hip-hop scene is dominated by men, but women like Taffy Raps are making their names known.
Originally an independent artist, she is now pursuing a professional career as a rapper. She began her career at 16 years old and gained prominence through her collaboration with Abyusif. In her most recent EP, Bar2 W Ra3d, she shares topics from her personal life, particularly regarding her career and relationships.12
- https://scenenoise.com/Features/Album-Spotlight-TaffyRaps-Bar2-W-Ra3d
↩︎ - https://mdlbeast.com/performers/taffy ↩︎
She shared that she has been inspired by artists such as Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, mixing her style with Middle Eastern and Western influences. She has received criticism for pushing beyond traditional norms, but that does not stop her. She is from the Maadi district in Cairo, Egypt, which is a well-off area. She also does R&B, but this piece will focus on her rap song,“BADDIE MEL MAADI.”
This short rap song represents a woman who refuses to be diminished by social expectations. From the opening line, “They don’t want me to be me,” the artist establishes conflict between confident women and the larger Egyptian society. She further pushes back against traditional gender dynamics in hip hop, where women are frequently objectified or portrayed as accessories to male success.
She states that she stays away from “loser” boys who only flirt. She says, “I need someone who’s well rounded / Not someone who’ll just give compliments.” Performative masculinity that views women only through their bodies, rather than their whole selves, is criticized in response.
The beat supports her flow, and she delivers the lyrics smoothly. The song also advocates for collective empowerment. The artist states she does this “for the girlies,” encouraging women to leave toxic relationships behind and focus on their health and exercise, showing how hip hop can be a tool for empowerment rather than negativity for women.
My only critique is that the song is quite short, and at times, the lyrics are a bit too simplistic. A shift in vocabulary throughout the song would elevate the song, but the confidence in her delivery and flow is unmatched.
The male-dominated space of hip hop is shifting around the world. Taffy Raps is just one of many female rappers contributing to this change, and she definitely needs to put out more rap music!