The Game Changers

Saudi MC Hassan Ahmad Dennaoui, aka Big Hass, discusses the rise of female MCs and their impact of female empowerment

- Big Hass

Almost 20 years into the new millennium, women’s empowerment is still a recurring concept. The objectification of women in the media makes it difficult to move proactively towards a female power. But the resistance against misogynistic decision making in the music industry does exist.

Contrary to male artists, female artists are more likely to be revamped in order to appeal to mass consumerism. (I’m setting the magnifying glass on hip-hop in particular, as it is the music genre that is closest to my heart). From the emergence of female rappers in the golden era of hip-hop, to Arab female hip-hop artists gaining visibility and popularity in the MENA region, we notice similarities from both sides of the world, contemplating an evolution that enriches my eagerness to support more female rappers in the region.

Queen Latifah says it best in her Grammy award-winning song U-N-I-T-Y, addressing the problem faced by women in general: how they are referred to in derogatory ways. Her song amplifies the need to quit downsizing and objectifying women.

Against all the odds, many legends have paved the way for hip hop to be embedded in popular culture. The famous duo Salt-N-Pepa were amongst the most successful acts of the century, Lil’ Kim had killers skills on the mic, and who can forget the first female solo rapper to release a full-length solo album, MC Lyte.