FSD Feature: Windy City Women: Chin Chilla Meek

Words by Marisol “Pinqy Ring” Vélez (@PinqyRing)

Windy City Women is a weekly series by FSD correspondent Marisol “Pinqy Ring” Vélez

Male rappers: How tired are you of not being recognized for your talent because of your gender? Of constantly being compared to the only other male rapper in the industry? Of not being able to make the hit record you know you’re capable of on a producer’s bangin’ beat, or not being able to get that famous rapper’s feature on a track, all because you’re not willing to lay on your back for it? Of having to prove yourself more than women when it comes to rap prowess? Of getting hit on by numerous people who claim they have the key to your success in the industry? Or, of having to overtly sexualize yourself for the sake of “saving” your music?

 …Oh. This doesn’t happen to you?

(Though, if it did, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind the “sleeping with” or “getting hit on” part.)

Being a woman in rap isn’t as easy as it looks. Hell, being a woman in anything isn’t easy. But, once in a while you find some fierce femcees brave enough to pick up a mic and fly through those pre-established (and sexist) Hip-Hop hurdles. (I apologize, in advance, to Psalm One for using the term “femcee.” It fit for alliteration purposes.)

Too often, though, some of those same women rappers who hurdle through are still ushered into the game by a male rapper. We all know the formula: Remy Martin, Big Pun. Lil’ Kim, Biggie. Foxy Brown, Nas. (And Jay Z.) DMX, Eve. Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj. The list goes on. After making it because they fell in a male rapper’s good graces, they then have to fit into one of two ends of the woman rapper spectrum: rap sex kitten, or thugged out misses. Either they are the symbol of sex for men, or that ride or die chick pulling pistols with him — or sometimes both. It seems that woman rappers have to jump through so many hurdles that in the end there is barely any breath left for that hot 16. The formula is pre-set, and often it seems to fit, but are we women rappers strictly determined by it?

The “Windy City Women” series means to answer the question: How do Chicago rappers of the female variety function within several contexts of oppression? Each week, a new woman rapper will be interviewed, celebrated, and asked critical questions to unpack and lay out the problem of marginalization and the lack of a defined presence. It’s clear that sexism, misogyny, patriarchy and male privilege are present, but do men (and, hell, even women) understand the woman MCs agenda? And how, then, do we work together to champion that agenda and celebrate the wonder women of Chicago for a more unified and unquestionable Midwest voice?

[Click Below For Next Page]