The music industry is extraordinarily sexist -sometimes it’s hard to tell what is and isn’t sexist in society because sexism was the norm for so long. People who are privileged tend to not see how the system oppresses the under privileged (like whites claiming racism doesn’t exist anymore).

Most current scientific studies about skill, IQ, task completion etc and esp female presence in male dominated fields (like sciences/engineering) show that the differences between male and females stem primarily from societal conditioning rather than ability innate to either gender.

That’s not to say females and males aren’t different. Testosterone plays a major part in ones’ desire to take risks and act competitively which may contribute to some of the wack gender ratios in the lucrative business of hip hop.

Anyway, this article is wack, lazy and poorly written

i’m a woman with nice titties who makes beats and raps and conducts scientific research.

women haven’t been encourage to make music and express themselves.

well i definitely agree that if she as so terribly vexed she should have been able to name a few artists…put them out there and promote them. certainly. it’s a shame she couldn’t stand by her statement and use that as a forum to promote the great musicians she’s talking about. i also agree that many women (when it comes to producing, dj’ing, etc.) haven’t really put themselves out there on the level that men have. it could be a result of sheer intimidation. i now plenty of women who are enamored with and genius’ when it comes to technology (i, myself, have a love for technology). call it a sign of the times. i don’t think that’s the issue on our end. but i certainly think a lot of men in the industry think it would be convenient if they could pass it off as such. i was listening to a popular dj speak the other day and he was talking about how hard it is for good female dj’s to get booked because the girls that are being showcased are really just “friends” with the event promoter or club owner or whatever…and surely these women are cute…but they can’t spin. so you sit through terrible music all night (because we don’t stand for sh**ty music now do we) and at the end you can’t help to think to yourself…”why did they have to put a chick up there?” unless you’re one of the dudes trying to bone her. the harsh reality. we are helping men to perpetuate this stereotype in hip hop when we try to use our sexuality to get over and do things in a half assed fashion when we know we can do better. i know women who would agree that a women in the industry should use her assets to get noticed when really raw talent probably WOULD in all honesty get your foot through the door. but as a result of chauvenism on both our parts (because let’s not lie…hip hop is one of the most chauvenist art forms out there…Oprah was actually on to something) women are reduced to Trina material. Trina’s good but we know she could be better. she gets accolades cause she flaunts her sexuality like every other female MC out there getting MASS praise. the only one is Missy but Missy can also get away with it cause she rolls with Timbaland and acts like a dude. it’s a shame it has to get to that point. but whatever….hip hop is chauvenist. i love and support a chauvenist art form. what can i say? we all pick our poison.

Also, as far as I’m concerned,music is music–it’s either good or it’s not. An artist,whether male or female, either has talent or they don’t. And to say women lack talent at both producing and rapping–well, I’m sorry, but there’s lot of male rappers out there who aren’t all that talented and rap about the same stupid shit all the time (banging hos, throwing their D’s, bragging about their grills or being a so-called gangster)but you’re saying they’re just better better because they’re men? Gimme a damn break–what a joke!

Article Launched: 03/15/2007 01:35:57 AM PDT

There’s definitely a revolution of sorts going on as hip-hop struggles to survive by purging itself of the negativity and commercial-driven, minstrel-like stereotypes that are plaguing it. Leading the charge are female artists and activists who, as of late, seem to be feeling like late civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer when she said she was “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
In this case, many have grown weary of the onslaught of misogynist-themed songs and videos green-lighted by the corporate media outlets that air them. As a result, we are seeing more and more women coming together, starting their own record labels, putting on their own events and concerts, forming their own artist collectives – basically demanding respect while creating space for themselves.

Erinn Ransom, a local activist and instructor at the University of California-Berkeley and Laney College in Oakland, explained that things are out of kilter and off balance. “People have been suffering from an estrogen deficiency even if they don’t consciously know it. It’s like your body is craving spinach or some other food to make up for being low in iron.” Ransom added that all the hard-core hip-hop stuff was fun and had its place, but serious issues like ongoing wars, global warming and continued inner-city strife have people seeking a new direction. It comes as no surprise to her that women’s voices are being sought out.

Leading the charge are popular artists like Queen Latifah,

who has a new HBO movie “Life Support,” which focuses on the impact of AIDS in the African-American community. Because of her acting prowess, many forget that Latifah has one of the oldest artists management companies (Flava Unit) within hip-hop. She expanded upon her business and has produced and directed her own films.
Latifah has set the bar and has been an inspiration to many, including her legendary contemporaries MC Lyte and Yo-Yo. They recently have combined efforts to put together a weeklong “Music Makers” camp where they will expose inner-city youth to industry experts to get an understanding of how things work behind the scenes.

In a recent interview, Yo-Yo said it’s critical that she and other successful women guide young people – especially women – to determine their own destiny. The goal, she said, is to get young women into a mindset of wanting to start their own businesses, and at the very least become familiar with the internal operations of the institutions and businesses they are involved with. More importantly, she wants women to network and build community.

Ransom also pointed out that for years African-American women have been encouraged to be individuals, but so much so that a deficiency in community has been created. Now, she says, you find that being balanced as women artists create spaces for themselves.

Here in the Bay Area those spaces have come about thanks to strong-willed artists, dancers and DJs like Jennifer Johns, Aya De Leon, Tracey Bartlow, B-Girl Aiko, DJ Backside and Pam Tha Funkstress to name a few. Others include female artist collectives such as Sisterz of the Underground and Herstory, who have all done their own female-themed events, one-woman shows, artist showcases and concerts.

Also on point is Hip Hop Congress’ Women’s Project, where the 35-city Bay Area-based organization is working to put together a listing of women involved in hip-hop to be used for networking.

For more information, hit up

sarah@hiphopcongress.com or check hiphopcongress.org.

Another project of note has been developed by Stanford’s Hiphop Archive headed up by Marcyliena Morgan. In celebration of Women’s International History Month, she and hip-hop scholar Dawn-Elissa Fischer are putting together a resource guide highlighting women in hip-hop at http://www.hiphoparchive.org/prep/

women.html.

In recent days, Maleena Lawrence has expanded her talk show on Comcast 26 and launched a series called “Ladies First,” which focuses on women in hip-hop. She said she had grown frustrated with asking, “Where are my sisters at?” every time she showed up at a hip-hop event.

Like Ransom, Lawrence has noticed a lack of community and has sought to change that, first with the all-female team she has working behind the scenes on her show, and now by creating “Ladies First,” which she hopes will bring together the West Coast’s women in hip-hop. If you’re interested, drop her an e-mail at

themlshow@gmail.com or check out

http://www.myspace.com/maleena8.

ROLL CALL: Here’s a shout-out for the upcoming “Queendom Vol. 1″ compilation album put together by a male Bay Area rapper named Oposit. The album features everyone from MC Lyte and Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets to L.A.’s Medusa and DJ Kuttin Kandi, along with Bay Area artists the Conscious Daughters and Aya de Leon.

In Seattle, “Rise: Women Reshaping History Through Hip Hop” has put on three jampacked all-women’s showcases over the past six months with artists like Pinay Sa Seattle, Melissa Noel Green, CanarySing, Gigi, Choklat and Laura Piece Kelly.

In Pittsburgh, women have rallied around a collective called Nakturnal, which has nurtured the burgeoning careers of award-winning artists like Vanessa Germen, Empress and Kellee Maize, who has generated a huge buzz with her new album, “The Age of Femine.”

In Washington, D.C., there is a thriving community of women hip-hoppers with names like Noodles, Najiea, Mahogany Jones, MN8, DJ Soyo and DJ Earth1ne. Many of these artists have participated in the monthly women’s showcase B-Girl Manifesto or the annual Can a Sista Rock a Mic festival.

In New York City, it was standing-room-only for the premiere of “Lady Beat Makers: Vol. 1,” a new documentary on female hip-hop producers. The film was the brainchild of Tachelle “Shamash” Wilkes, who heads up the popular Web site http://www.femmixx.com, which spotlights women in hip-hop.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s out there and what is set to come.

Firespitter is seldom used for any female in the music game, yet Stephanie “Diverse” Whitaker is bringing pure heat. A rising music producer from Flatbush, Brooklyn, this lady beatmaker seized first place at both the International Producers Association (IPA) Beat Battle 2006 and the MTP Beat Battle Invitational Ladies First 2005. Once the judges heard an inferno coming from a small 5’4 frame they knew that she was indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Impressing music lovers with her eclectic mix of Asian sounds blended with Dance hall, hip-hop mixed with Dance hall, and straight up hip-hop, confident and poised – Diverse utters, “My talent is going to bring good music to the industry. A producer is a producer whether male or female and it shouldn’t be oh she’s a female and she does beats. There are a lot of women out there who have great talent – better than just shaking their asses on the screen.”

There’s no doubt that this curator puts in work. She is used to long nights – creating beats with her Yamaha Motif keyboard, MPC 2000, Protools, Cubase, and other programs from 6 pm in the evening till 7 am the next morning.

Originally from Panama Colon, Diverse is what the names implies “a multi- talented young woman” who infuses hip hop, Latin, R & B, soul and whatever moves her to create unforgettable tracks that make the head nod. At the tender age of five Diverse was already mimicking music heard on the radio and located the notes on the piano. It was then that her family knew that she had an ear for music.
“At age seven my father’s late best friend Franky Murray bought me my first keyboard the Casio SK 5. I started creating my own music,” she reveals. By age fourteen, Diverse knew that she had God given gifts and began taking her talent more serious and started recording her beats.
Diverse has worked with the likes of rapper Sean Watson, who is about to change up the rap game from her label, Dymond Cutz Records, Desiree, R & B sensation from Hush Hush Entertainment and hip hop soul singer Tachelle Shamash from Femmixx.com. Diverse is also featured on the upcoming documentary Lady Beatmakers: Volume 1, slated for release the summer of ’06.
The music game has been starving for new energy and Diverse is that missing link. She’s gonna change the industry in a big way. “I want anyone who has great talent! It’s all about getting my name out and skills to the greatest,” she expresses. Knowing that this young lady can rival the boy beat makers the streets will be watching.
For interviews and serious inquiries please contact Tachelle at 347-613-6332 or Tachelle@femmixx.com