No Man's Land

by Michelle Chang

Rap: the first image the word brings to mind is a man standing on a stage in baggy clothing, draped in big pieces of jewellery.  It is the stereotypical portrayal of this generation’s rap artist.  One element of this generation’s music industry, however, is almost anyone can slip in their one hit wonder, making people believe that anyone can rap, even females.

Femmes are breaking the barriers of the typical rap scene. Vikas Kohli, the sole producer of the Mississauga based recording studio, FatLabs, says female rappers are on the rise. “One artist I’ve worked with years back was shocked to hear a woman rapping on the radio. It has definitely changed now.”

MasiaOne, Eternia, Michie Mee, Tara Chase, and Motion are all female emcees making their way in the industry.

The small Canadian music market, gender misconceptions and wrong marketing techniques contribute to the underexposure of Canadian female emcees. “[The biggest misconception about female emcees] is that we all suck, that all we do is talk about boys in our songs or materialistic things,” says 26-year-old Eternia. “[They think] that we can’t battle, that we can’t hold our own on stage with dudes because we’re sensitive. I think most male emcees I know are more sensitive than me.”

Females aren’t always sugar and spice and everything nice. The rappers are proving that by bringing a new perspective to the music industry. “I think especially in a metropolitan city such as Toronto or NYC, people are encouraged to see a female representing for a creative art form,” says Singaporean lyricist MasiaOne.

“We, as female emcees, are just plain dope period,” Eternia says. “What do we have to offer? Well, just good music worth listening to and supporting! Gender only becomes an issue because the industry and fans alike make it an issue. I wish it wasn’t.”

These female emcees agree that by adding more ladies in the field, they can offer a fresh perspective. They’re not changing the genre, they’re not trying to turn rap into a female dominated ground, but they are offering a different voice. With mainstream music ruling this generation, it is common to hear women seen or spoken about as eye-candy. “Female emcees can push the music industry further by just creating as they see an expression of themselves,” says MasiaOne. With more females in the industry, Lady Ill, the only lady running with S.A.R.S Entertainment says girls can speak up to what they’re being seen as and break down that generality. She says people wouldn't guess that she lived in a broken home or that she lived in public housing. Lady Ill has legitimate life experiences to share with the public.

“[Female rappers can offer] a balanced perspective.  Hip Hop is notoriously hyper masculine,” says Eternia. “The competitiveness of it, the braggadocios element or the ownership elements .But women who are in touch with their true selves will most definitely offer an array of perspectives like their thoughts or feelings that dudes in this game just don’t provide.”

Eternia suggests that aspiring female rappers need to get out in the public eye and show people their talent. “At the beginning, go for talent competitions, searches, community radio stations, open mics, street ciphers, recording sessions with your friends, you name it,” Eternia says. “You can only afford to be selective once people know who you are.”         

Eighteen year-old K-Notty, who is at the start of her career, says that females have a distinct voice. “I hear female raps flow and they offer genuine music. I listen to the ones that don’t go the simple route of rapping about money and sex. They lyrically prove they deserve to be where they are.”

It’s promising that female rap artists will continue stepping out to rap in the future. “In two years I can say a lot more female rappers will come out,” says Lady Ill. “I know a lot of good rappers out there, but they’re just scared to come out.”    
  
As the rap genre continues to grow, maybe the first picture that comes to a person’s head when they hear the word “rap” won’t be associated with such masculine objects. “Music is art, and emceeing is music,” Eternia says. ”So it’s that simple. I would argue that anyone who thinks emceeing is not an art form has never looked into hip-hop culture at all.” Rapping is an art that gives passionate people a voice to be heard. “Emceeing is rooted in giving a literal voice to those that had none,” says MasiaOne. “It is based on political and social expression, poetics, gesturing and stage presence, impromptu creation and community.”