Tag: female rappers
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celebrate the female braggadocio
From the outsider’s gaze, hip hop is at times seen as monolithic and is trivialized by the outsider’s perspective – labelled as materialistic, unnecessary, and narcissistic. In their pursuit to underplay the complexity and nuance of the genre, as well as their convenient omission of the dedicated Eminem playlist in their music library, these strangers…
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Namibia’s Finest Ladies of HIP-HOP Mixtape
Namibia is a country with many talented emcees, especially women. The mixtape, “Namibia’s Finest Ladies of Hip-Hop” features Ghetto Ballerina, Bella Harris, Lioness, RÖMI, and Karishma. Braggadocio is a key element of hip-hop as it helps establish credibility for female artists. Braggadocio is also used to call out competition which leads to artists ensuring that…
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FLOHIO: WHERE LAGOS MEETS SOUTH LONDON
Flohio is a rapper from South East London with familial roots in Lagos, Nigeria. With her totally unconventional sound, Flohio uses witty lines and supernatural sounds that make it hard to put her into a genre box. Her image consists of fierce representation of South London with an intense energy that clearly stems from her…
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Stomrzy “Superheroes”
Stormzy is a Ghanain rapper based in the United Kingdom. Stormzy’s Superheroes was released on September 9, 2020 shortly after the Black Lives Matter protests that previous summer. I was attracted to the video because of its use of Animation and the animation style. The animation style reminded me of the tv series, The Boondocks.…
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Wake up justice
Up and coming Ugandan rapper Rachael M speaks to equity and equality for young girls within Uganda. Rachael is a dancehall and reggae artist originally from Kampala, Uganda. She used house plates and pans as a small time rap career and has just grown since. She has skillfully created a beautiful song about Uganda and…
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Confronting The Representation of African women- 3 Artists Changing the Narrative through song
African women are often grossly misrepresented by the media and pop culture, the narratives established since colonialism often find their way into the way African women are portrayed to the world. This is why it is so important for artists like Enny, Dope Saint Jude, and Sampa the Great to be recognized and celebrated for…
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Botswana’s “Queen of Rap” Gone too Soon
Earlier this month, 27-year-old artist Sarona “Sasa Klaas” Motlhagodi passed away in a helicopter crash. A musician, actress, and media personality, Sasa Klaas built a reputation as a female rapper, earning herself the title of the “Queen of Rap.” One of Botswana’s most celebrated talents, Sasa was recognized by former Botswana Musicians Union president Pagson…
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Hottest Homegirl on the Block
Ghetto Ballerina’s video for “Homegirl” opens up with her and her homegirls fiercely using a car as a prop while some are sitting in it, sitting on it, and standing outside of the car. Ghetto Ballerina embodies what many women envision their girl group to be, the most fiercest. She comes out swinging with braggadocio…
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“Identify Yourself” – Stella Mwagni Speaks to Awareness for Social Change
The final two lines of this rap capture the essence of her message to the audience: be aware so that we may unite and make a difference. Stella Mwangi, a Kenyan rapper now living in Norway includes a theme of social change and awareness in her uplifting song “Identify Yourself”. The music urges the audience…
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The Roles Reversed!
It’s no secret that Sierra Leone hip hop is predominantly run by men. There is a common stigma in many African societies that women must stay home, cook, clean, and raise the children. However, Natasha Beckley, a Sierra Leonean female rapper, rebels against that in her 2020 music video, “Thonon.” Beckley’s music video as a…