2 Favorite Black Queens In The Music Industry

For decades black women have been contributing to the musical industry unashamed. They’ve changed, invented, and mixed sounds to create chart topping and game changing music. Since the times of slavery, they’ve used music to express themselves and their emotions in a way that others can relate.

From blues, to jazz, over to Gospel, and slamming in with R&B women are making their voices known and they aren’t holding back. There are so many women who have changed the narrative for black women in the world. They’ve adjusted the look from being sexualized in rap videos to owning and expressing ourselves and our sexuality without shame.

When you think of women in the music industry, especially in music videos, you usually think loosely clad, vulgar, and overall sexualized. The women listed below came in and changed that view. There was no longer the angle of submissive woman. These women stood up, made their presence known and dared anyone to come about and change who they were. They didn’t change to fit a mold that had been created to lower or demean them they made the mold change to fit them, independent women who used music to vocalize what they felt needed to be heard.

There are a significant number of women who are and who have trailblazed through the music industry but below are the top 2 that have inspired me the most.

1.) Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill is a Singer, song writer, rapper, actor, and producer. Out of all the women she is my absolute favorite. For years Hill was creating one of a kind music that no one has been able to replicate. I still turn on her doo wop to get in my writing moods and it will always be a classic.

Hill started her career young, but she was still a force to be reckoned with. In her time with the group the Fugees and once she went solo.

Artists such as Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Kehlani and many others have stated that their music was inspired by Hill. Lin Manuel, the creator of Hamilton stated that Hill had inspired a few of his songs in the musical as well.

She had very strong views about race and what her music was intended for. More than once she faced back lash and accusations of being racist but she never let it stop what she was doing in the music industry. She never strayed and stayed true to her beliefs. She eventually took a hiatus from music to focus on motherhood and her spirituality.

Right before the pandemic she announced that she was going to get back to music and start a tour. I’m looking forward to what she brings next.

I don't need anybody to market or promote me. If people don't want to hear this music, then it's not for them. You cannot please everybody.

-Lauryn Hill

2.) Queen Latifah

Known as the queen of jazz rap. She changed the game rooting for women, gender equality, and the equality of black people. She hasn’t been on the music side of things in a while, but she is still acting and producing. She was always very vocal in wanting women to be treated better especially black women. This woman came as original as one can get and never changed. Her height, weight, sexuality, and gender never stopped her from moving forward.

"I feel like every woman is a queen, and we should be treated as such, and we should, you know, sort of request that sort of treatment from others."

-Queen Latifah

These women came as they are and made changes to the industry in a way that women now are destroying day by day. Hill and Queen didn’t accept that it was a man’s world, and they made their way without having to strip down and only talk about their body or their beauty.

While I believe in embracing the female sexuality and not being ashamed of it, I also believe that it’s important to not make it seem that that's the only thing that we have to bring to the table. Women in the industry now have taken the stance of showing off their bodies and rapping about it in their music but then turn and be angry when the men in the rap industry objectify them in the same way.

I love the way Queen and Hill represented us as black women without the need to change their appearance, style, or beliefs. I could listen or watch them and feel motivated to follow my dreams and be better as a woman. There is no negativity or weakness. These women brought power, individuality, and style in a way only they could.