Are Women Finally Ascending in the Hip Hop Talk Space?

Angela Yee, Nadeska Alexis, Rachel Lindsay and Laura Stylez have played second fiddle long enough.

The #1 mic on radio, and podcast shows have enormous power and influence. To their respective audiences, Charlamagne tha God, Joe Budden, Ebro Darden and Van Latham are talk gods. Verbose, articulate and at times insightful cultural commentators, they are our old wind bag uncles; familiar and often cringeworthy. They hold conversations hostage, use all the oxygen in the room and give the word pontificate new dimensions. Those in their vicinity grapple for a modicum of time.

Regulated to second or third mic, the women cohorts are subjugated to menial labor: introductions, transitions, news, gossip and fashion. More often listeners than speakers and gaffe correctors than offenders. This is the quandary women in hip hop talk find themselves in 2023. To succeed they assume demur voices, mannerism, personas as to not offend, take up space or out-shine. Loud and brazen, Wendy Williams was an anomaly!

Women in hip hop talk are treated more like garnishes than entrees.

Angela Yee, Nadeska Alexis, Rachel Lindsay and Laura Stylez are but a few of the prominent women in hip hop talk who are far more Angie Martinez than Wendy Williams. They have the mettle do be more than soft props on the Breakfast Club, Rap Life Review, Everyday Struggle, Higher Learning and Ebro in the Morning. As the second if not third mic, these women navigate an inordinate amount of obstacles. The torrential wave of disrespect and hate is frightening. Death and rape threats, whore taunts and calls for cancellation are constant. Women in hip hop talk have had to grin and bear it; this is hip hops, very own shut-up and play.

Of course misogyny in hip hop is not new. The lyrics, videos, indeed the culture has long supported, glorified, justified and ultimately normalized the objectification and degradation of women. As the genre celebrates its diamond (fiftieth) anniversary, women are finally breaking through. But the bitches ain’t shit narrative has not been erased. It has mostly been co-opted, by women!

2022 was a phenomenal year for women in hip hop. There is finally more than one or two women at the top. The cadre of women dominating are as successful and talented as their male counterparts. From veterans to newbies, there is finally a wide spectrum of women in hip hop. This year Nicki, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion welcomed Doechii, Glorilla, Coi Leray, Ice Spice, Latto …

Why can’t more women lead in the hip hop talk space?

With Way Up With Angela Yee the hip hop talk industry too may be shifting. But the recent launch of her iHeart afternoon show received far less attention than her departure from The Breakfast Club. Even the search for her replacement is receiving for more press; the long list of guest co-hosts regularly go viral (Jason Lee, NeNe Leakes, LaLa, Eboni Williams…).

Yee will have to do far more than her male counterparts to truly shine. There will be no selfless men to willingly supporting her on the second or third mic. She won’t be able to be reckless, loud, or contradictory. Yee’s road ahead is treacherous. With her experience, network and work ethic she is well positioned to traverse the misogyny of the genre and the fickleness of entertainment. Will the industry and audience give her a fair shot? She deserves grace and patience. Treat her kindly like N.O.R.E when he sat quietly as Ye spewed hate at George Floyd and the Jewish community. Run-up her numbers like Joe Budden‘s even though he uses women as punchlines regularly. Let her get her —-off like Van Latham when he slammed Emmanuel Acho in an extended monologue while his co-host sat on mute. Give Ye time to apologize like Jason Lee when he erroneously declared the Queen dead.

The long line of women in the space are beloved. Not solely for their beauty, physiques or jejunity. These professionals have intellect, deep music and industry knowledge. They are their own unique hip hop royalty. It is time they are treated as such. The standard hip hop talk team of two men and one woman is an antiquated ideal. Men too can be support radio and podcast characters!

It is time the readily accepted misogynoir in hip hop be obliterated. Hip hop talk women, 2023 is your year!