First Ladies of Hip-Hop

Our First Ladies of Hip-Hop hit the mic to tell it like it is, and they do it with their own brand of fierce feminine flavor, from freak-diva Missy Elliott, who teams up with Ciara and Fat Man Scoop to "Lose Control," to Monie Love and Queen Latifah, who lay it on the line old-school-style with "Ladies First." Ruff rapper Eve enlists best bud Gwen Stefani and legendary boardman Dr. Dre for her take-charge command "Let Me Blow Ya Mind," and world citizen M.I.A. blends Clash samples, cash registers, and gunshots for a Diplo Street remix of her stealth smash "Paper Planes (featuring Bun B & Rich Boy)."

Man's world? Forget it — there're more First Ladies of Hip-Hop in Next Steps.

So, how do you slam a fool while keeping your cool? Fire up Lauryn Hill's island-spiced "Lost Ones" and listen as the woman schools 'em but good. Fact is, all our hip-hop ladies have got something to say, whether it's Jean Grae revealing her innermost self on the Jeanius confession "My Story," or Khia, who lays bare her outer self on the raw-but-right "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)." Groundbreaker MC Lyte stands her ground with the '80s great "10% Dis," and Remy Ma just lets it all go to the house-party beats of "Whuteva."

Step up to Deep Cuts for more First Ladies of Hip-Hop wisdom.

When L.A. rapper Nefertiti decides to "Lay Down the Law," she does it up West Coast-style, but if there's one thing that unites all our First Ladies of Hip-Hop it's that they each do their own special thing. So while Lil Mama hits the dance floor with T-Pain and Chris Brown on "Shawty Get Loose," Ashanti enlists Charli Baltimore, Ja Rule, and Vita for the smooth, soul-flavored come-on "Down 4 U." Meanwhile, Foxy Brown ain't funnin' when she, Gangsta Boo, and Mia x make with "BWA," while a slightly more laid-back Encore & Ladybug Mecca get down to some plain ol' "Real Talk."

When Salt-N-Pepa detonated the charts with their 1987 beat-box bonanza "Push It," the first all-female rap crew not only smashed down the walls between pop and hip-hop success, they also injected a much-needed dose of girl power into a scene that was already steeped in testosterone. These first First Ladies of Hip-Hop rapped a path down which other urban sisters happily tore, from pint-sized powerhouse MC Lyte (the big sounds of "Ruffneck") to street siren Lil' Kim ("The Jump Off") to the regal sounds of Queen Latifah ("U.N.I.T.Y.") and the supa-dupa fly girl herself, Missy Elliott ("Get Ur Freak On"). And there are many, many more, which is why we bring you a hip-hop ladies Essentials packed like a Prada purse with everything from the too-cool sounds of Lauryn Hill and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" to the nasty-girl deep cut "Bad Babysitter" by Princess Superstar.