Hip-Hop can’t be properly celebrated without acknowledging the fashions that were birthed. Over the years, many female fashion designers have made significant contributions to hip-hop. All from designing clothing lines and creating iconic looks for some of the most influential artists. SOHH, Let’s take a look at the women that made a huge impact in […]
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In honor of Women’s History Month, SOHH has been giving female artists their flowers back-to-back. This time, we celebrate some of the most influential women who paved the way in the hip-hop genre, such as Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, and more. Here are the top ten influential women in hip-hop, who have also […]
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Who remembers waiting for that Thelma & Louise album from rappers Lil Kim and Foxy Brown back in 1996?
While the album was one of the most anticipated albums of that year, it would never see the light of day after the two Brooklyn femcees dissolved their personal and work relationships. Before any beef ruined the project, Kim and Foxy were just two beautiful chicks from the hood repping their crews and grabbing the baton from Queen Latifah, Mc Lyte, and more.
The two decided to cause a frenzy and appeared together on The Source Magazine’s iconic cover, which appeared in the February 1997 issue. It was a groundbreaking moment in hip-hop culture featuring the two girls in colorful wigs, seductive outfits, and heavy makeup.
At the time, female rappers achieving commercial success was still a relatively new phenomenon in the industry. There was a lot of criticism about their place in hip-hop culture. Many critics argued that female rappers were cashing in on a trend and didn’t have the same level of lyrical skill or street credibility as their male counterparts.
The Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown cover was a direct response to those criticisms, as well as a celebration of the power and influence of female rappers. By appearing together on the cover, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown was saying they were not to be underestimated or dismissed. They were talented, confident, and proud to embrace their sexuality.
The Source also proved they were committed to giving female rappers a platform and a voice in the industry.
The Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown cover was a decisive moment in hip-hop a culture that helped to break down barriers and pave the way for more diverse representation in the industry. It remains an iconic image that continues to inspire and empower female rappers and hip-hop fans around the world.
The post Iconic Moment In Hip Hop: Lil Kim And Foxy Brown Cover The Source Magazine appeared first on The Source.
An interaction with Cardi B apparently caused Noreaga to reevaluate how he approaches women in the industry. The Rap icon’s musical contributions to Hip Hop are etched in stone, but his success as a podcast host has catapulted him to new heights. Drink Champs is a leading force in Hip Hop media, and they recently inked a new deal with Warner Music Group’s in-house network, Interval Presents.
Nore was recently a guest on The Joe Budden Podcast, where he revealed that a conversation with a rapper shifted how he approached his interviews. “When I had the conversation with Cardi B, she kinda like, revealed things that I was doing on the show,” said Nore. “It made her think I was dissing her.” He further admitted that other women in Rap took issue with remarks he made on Drink Champs about them, as well. This included Foxy Brown and Lil Kim, who Nore said confronted him with similar concerns.
“It was almost identical. And I realized, one, I’m not playing with females at all,” he continued. “Ever again. I apologize, women, y’all got my whole ears. Apologize. I did not know what I was doing. And when Cardi told me how sometimes these questions, it’s different when you ask it for females. I didn’t realize that ’cause I’m not a female.”
“And I actually—’cause I don’t feel sorry for nobody famous,” Noreaga further shared. “If you famous and rich, I’m sorry, f*ck you. And that was the first time that I was like, ‘I’m sorry.’ Actually, I don’t know if I said that to her, I think I did say ‘I’m sorry, Cardi.’ Because I didn’t realize the same questions I could ask, it’s different when I ask it of a female.”
At the end of December, Nore said he welcomed Cardi to Drink Champs after having a “great conversation” with her. At the time, he didn’t explain what the discussion was about, but it may have had something to do with his recent revelation. No word if she’s accepted the invitation, but we’ll keep you posted if it materializes. Check out the clip of Noreaga on The Joe Budden Podcast above.
Lola Brooke is set for a huge breakout in 2023 and now, she’s been anointed by the Queen Bee herself. The Brooklyn rapper — Brooke, not Kim — has the streets buzzing with her viral single “Don’t Play With It,” and many believe she’s poised to have a similar explosion in popularity to GloRilla or fellow drill rapper Ice Spice this year.
Last night at Harlem’s historical Apollo Theater, Lil Kim — who many still deem the foremother of the modern wave of female rap artists — kicked off the Harlem Festival Of Culture with The Jump Off With Lil Kim And Friends show. Apparently, one of those friends turned out to be Lola Brooke, who took the stage to an uproarious response from the crowd.
“I’m so proud of you, baby,” Kim told her as she emerged from backstage. “I got your f*ckin’ back!” Brooke followed up the exchange of mutual appreciation with an acapella rendition of her street hit, accompanied by what sounds very much like a full-crowd sing-along.
Na Lola Brooke really made it. Lil Kim just brought her out to the Apolllo
holy shittttt pic.twitter.com/IA44y1Ja1C
— AL Jetson (@beforethejetson) January 27, 2023
Lil Kim was at the #APOLLO last night and brought out Lola Brooke
pic.twitter.com/WmSK6ue5zr
— FMHipHop (@_FMHipHop) January 27, 2023
Lil’ Kim and Lola Brooke praise one another tonight at the Apollo Theater
pic.twitter.com/7ySqwK0xIi
— LIL KIM VIDEOS (@LilKimVideos2) January 27, 2023
Judging from the reactions to her appearance at the Apollo, all Lola Brooke needs to complete her rap takeover is to remain consistent. She already has the ears and hearts of her hometown — and to quote one of her peers, with that, how can she lose?
Another high-profile rap show is headed to the Apollo. Lil Kim is teaming up with the Harlem Festival of Culture for a special concert. It will be her first time headlining the historic venue.
The Jump Off with Lil’ Kim and Friends will take place on January 26, the 89th anniversary of the renowned venue. The event, presented by Infiniti, also marks the start of HFC’s partnership with the Apollo for the next festival weekend.
“It’s going to be a night to remember to help kick off the Harlem Festival of Culture’s road to the festival with some of my special friends,” Lil’ Kim said to Billboard. “Apollo was like my backyard; I played there so much and every time it was always love. The crowd is always amazing!”
The show will also feature performances from Ashanti, Remy Ma, and Fivio Foreign.
“As we prepared to start on this road to the launch of the festival, we realized that this was also a milestone year for hip-hop and knew that our first major event out of the gate had to be special and center around hip-hop and R&B,” said HFC co-founder and technical & talent producer Yvonne McNair. “One of the tenants of HFC’s mission is to celebrate and preserve the cultural contributions of the Black Diaspora in music, media, art, fashion and entertainment. Hip-hop culture has touched every single part of society, and there is no artist that better represents its far-reaching impact than Lil’ Kim. We’re so thrilled that Kim will help us curate the evening to bring a full, one-of-a-kind music experience to audiences in the city where it all began. We’re also excited to launch this event and our festival journey with our partners.”
The post Lil Kim Set to Deliver Her First Headlining Apollo Theater Performance appeared first on The Source.
This year, the Harlem music festival documented in Questlove’s directorial debut Summer Of Soul is returning and will actually be a year-long affair celebrating the history and culture of the New York neighborhood and its influence. While the Harlem Festival Of Culture will mostly take place in July, a series of related events will kick off this month with a concert at the legendary Apollo Theater headlined by rap icon Lil Kim.
The Jump Off With Lil Kim And Friends is billed for January 26, which is incidentally the Apollo’s 89th anniversary. Yvonne McNair, the Harlem Festival Of Culture’s co-founder and talent producer, said in a statement, “As we prepared to start on this road to the launch of the festival, we realized that this was also a milestone year for hip-hop and knew that our first major event out of the gate had to be special and center around hip-hop and R&B.”
“One of the tenets of HFC’s mission is to celebrate and preserve the cultural contributions of the Black Diaspora in music, media, art, fashion, and entertainment. Hip-hop culture has touched every single part of society, and there is no artist that better represents its far-reaching impact than Lil Kim. We’re so thrilled that Kim will help us curate the evening to bring a full, one-of-a-kind music experience to audiences in the city where it all began. We’re also excited to launch this event and our festival journey with our partners.”
“Apollo was like my backyard,” said Kim herself. “I played there so much and every time it was always love. The crowd is always amazing!”
Over the past year, Kim’s influence has become more apparent than ever, as successors to her raunchy rap legacy like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion talked about collaborating with her, and even Nicki Minaj acknowledged her impact.
“Munch (Feelin U)” helped put her on the map, and Ice Spice continues to carve out her space in Hip Hop. The Bronx-born artist emerged last year with a viral hit that captivated fans worldwide, and she’s become the industry’s new “it” artist in the female Rap scene. In a new interview with XXL, Ice details her upbringing as the eldest of six children and wanting to make a mark as an artist.
“New York is full of stars, for real. So, it’s just like growing up around a bunch of stars, I feel like I became one,” she said. “The Bronx definitely made me tough. And it definitely allowed me to read people.”
Before she had a hit under her belt, Ice Spice was a fan who idolized other women in the Rap game. She noted fellow New Yorkers Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim as influences.
“When I saw Nicki, I was so mesmerized. She’s the first female rapper that I seen,” said Spice. “And ever since then, I was kinda set on what I wanted to be.”
Once she decided on her Rap moniker in high school, people began to take her more seriously as an artist. Spice is currently working on her debut EP, which has yet to receive a release date. People are debating whether she’ll be a one-hit-wonder.
However, Ice said she doesn’t want the world to count her out just yet.
“I just started my career, so I got a long way to go before I’m satisfied. But I want to be remembered for all the things I didn’t get to do yet.”
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The ceremony may not air until next Tuesday (October 4), but the BET Hip Hop Awards is underway in Atlanta. Our favorite artists have made their way to the Cobb Energy Center in what is expected to be an epic celebration of the culture. Fat Joe is hosting the event and the I Am Hip Hop Award recipient this year is none other than the “Baddest B*tch” herself, Trina.
In the weeks leading up to the award show, Fat Joe has repeatedly expressed just how honored he is to add his name to the list of hosts.
“I want to bring the energy, and culture and engage the audience. I want to talk to everybody around the world,” he recently said. “If they give out the award for best host of all-time for the Hip Hop Awards, I want to receive that.”
We’ll have to wait to see just how this show unfolds in its totality, but we can pass the time by taking a look at the stars and their red carpet looks.
David Banner, Busta Rhymes, Fivio Foreign, Yung Bleu, Baby Tate, Armani Ceasar, RZA, Redman, N.O.R.E., Lil Kim, Moneybagg Yo, and several others are slated to perform, so let us know who you’re looking forward to as you peruse the photos below.
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