Throughout history, black women have been continually cast as inferior beings to their male counterparts. This is especially true when it comes to the music industry. Although the industry was no stranger to female music artists, Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, and Tina Turner to name a few, female rappers were virtually unheard of until the late 1980’s when a few popped onto the scene. Trailblazing new pathways for younger female artists, Queen Latifa, throughout her twenty-seven years as a prolific artist and entertainer, have portrayed an image of strength, intelligence, and beauty for black women.
She took the Hip Hop community by storm with the lyrics from “Ladies First” and “Unity”, their Afrocentric qualities are described in the music as well as in her use of names and images. The rhythms of rap are those of Africa, and the African/Afro-American music focuses on the rhythm and percussion use. Queen Latifa altered those talents into Hip Hop to condemn racism, black on black hatred, and the issues that …show more content…
Her music has always had some type of positive message for those that look up to her. She “preaches” unity amongst all, urging young women to look upon themselves as queens and demanding the respect that is due to them not just from men but from each other. Her song “U.N.I.T.Y.” sends the message against domestic violence, “But I don’t want my kids to see getting beat down; By daddy smacking mommy all around; You say I’m nothing without ya, but I’m nothing with ya: A man don’t really love you if he hits ya”. Also, speaking out towards women trying to fit in and be “gangstas.” In 1993, rappers like Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were making hits with what was known as “Gangsta Rap.” “Call yourself a Gangsta Bitch now that you saw Apache’s video” refers to the underground hit “Gangsta Bitch” by Apache, which encouraged woman to behave in the same manner as the Gangsta
She took the Hip Hop community by storm with the lyrics from “Ladies First” and “Unity”, their Afrocentric qualities are described in the music as well as in her use of names and images. The rhythms of rap are those of Africa, and the African/Afro-American music focuses on the rhythm and percussion use. Queen Latifa altered those talents into Hip Hop to condemn racism, black on black hatred, and the issues that …show more content…
Her music has always had some type of positive message for those that look up to her. She “preaches” unity amongst all, urging young women to look upon themselves as queens and demanding the respect that is due to them not just from men but from each other. Her song “U.N.I.T.Y.” sends the message against domestic violence, “But I don’t want my kids to see getting beat down; By daddy smacking mommy all around; You say I’m nothing without ya, but I’m nothing with ya: A man don’t really love you if he hits ya”. Also, speaking out towards women trying to fit in and be “gangstas.” In 1993, rappers like Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were making hits with what was known as “Gangsta Rap.” “Call yourself a Gangsta Bitch now that you saw Apache’s video” refers to the underground hit “Gangsta Bitch” by Apache, which encouraged woman to behave in the same manner as the Gangsta