Without a doubt...

Do My Ladies Run This?
written by Just K

Hell yeah, they do. If women stopped to think about their influence on hip-hop music they would understand just how much power they hold. Who do you think was responsible for LL Cool J even being allowed to drop records after the 90s? I can promise you I didn’t have a post-90s LL joint, nor did any of my homeboys. However, I can say I recall “Imagine That” pumping out of some girl’s car long after the single left radio. On behalf of LL, thanks for holding his career down, ladies.

Don’t forget THE GIRL SONG. Yup. Every rapper is obligated to have at least one THE GIRL SONG per disc. Something indescribably raunchy that women inexplicably enjoy. Either that, or a song that completely overuses the words “baby” and “shawty.” I don’t know when Plies became a heartthrob, but women everywhere wanted to be his Bust it Baby. Ewwwwww. Fat Joe and J. Holiday, Jadakiss and Mariah Carey, Lil’ Wayne and Bobby Valentino, Fabolous and Tamia, 2 Pistols (?) and T-Pain, any rapper and any R&B singer. Hell, ya’ll gave Diddy two separate hits with “I Need a Girl.” You’re an audience that MCs go out of their way to cater, too.

And if it’s not THE GIRL SONG, it’s THE BE A FREAK song. Yes ma’am. Women managed to give the Ying Yang Twins a few hits. Luke made a whole career of that in the south. Back That Azz Up by Juvenile still gets it poppin’. Though I’m not certain, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that the term Booty Shake Music has nothing to do with guys dancing. And speaking of guys dancing, there’s a reason THE BE A FREAK songs do so well. It’s because it brings you to the club. And we, the fellas, will pay good money just to hang out with ya’ll as you slide freely past the velvet rope.

So far, female support there are fewer THE GIRL SONG songs, less Booty Shake Music, THE BE A FREAK song, and no clubs.

We can’t forget music videos. Without video girls, MCs would either have to make really creative or really homoerotic videos.

As if all this weren’t enough, Debra Lee is the Chairman and CEO of BET, consequently making her the Chairman and CEO of “urban” music videos. President of Motown and Executive Vice President of Universal Records is Sylvia Rhone. Julie Greenwald is definitely President of Atlantic Records. I’m sure there are many other women in positions of importance and influence.

The point is, women have a great deal of power. Hip-hop caters to, makes songs for, neglects, and disrespects you. Wild, right? Women have managed to change hip-hop in interesting ways. If they wanted to, they could change it again. Ahem, only if they wanted to.