Almost a decade has passed since the release of Lauryn Hill’s groundbreaking solo debut. Lauryn Hill’s rudeness. Armed with quiet confidence, a Madison Avenue smile, and a chilling pun, Ms. Hill took the world by storm, winning over critics and average folks alike. That being said, Lauryn Hill is my pick as the greatest female rapper of all time.
To be fair, one could make a case for artists like MC Lyte or Jean Grae to take the title, and it would be hard to argue. However, in my personal opinion, Lauryn beats them all and I have come up with 5 compelling reasons.
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1. Lauryn didn’t have to sell her body to sell records
Most female rappers I’ve come across try to overcompensate for their lack of rhyming skills by flaunting an over-the-top hypersexual image. Lauryn, on the other hand, provided a refreshing contrast. She was very proud to be a woman, but she never allowed that to overshadow the fact that she is a true MC who wishes to be respected for her talent, not her bust size.
2. His music was never obscene
With a fully developed vocabulary and artistic maturity beyond her years, Ms. Hill was able to make her point convincingly without being foul-mouthed or overtly sexual.
3. His music was entertaining and sincere.
One of the reasons Miseducation was a success was because it touched us on so many levels. He was smart, but never boring or out of reach of the average person’s intellectual understanding. Also, songs like Doo Wop (That Thing), Lost Ones and Everything is Everything, showed that Hip-Hop can make us move our heads and make us think, without sacrificing one for the other.
4. She is the barometer with which we measure rappers today
No matter how unfair you may think it is, Lauryn’s musical endeavors have set the bar almost unbelievably high when it comes to female Hip-Hop artists. Even today’s “it” Nicki Minaj hasn’t been able to match the kind of positive impact Lauryn’s presence had on urban culture and the perpetual images of black women.
5. His music continues to inspire
No other female MC has done more to inspire future generations of girls to grab the mic. Her earthy ethnic style provided compelling evidence that young black women don’t have to compromise their standards or betray their bodies in order for their voices to be heard.