Foxy Brown’s “Hot Spot” was the first song released from her 1999 sophomore album, Chyna Doll. Brown co-wrote the lyrics with Jay-Z and Irv Gotti and Lil Rob produced the beat. Brown had reached stardom with her 1996 debut album, Ill Na Na, and Chyna Doll kept the momentum. The album landed at number one on the Billboard chart and no other woman rapper had done that except Lauryn Hill one year earlier. Critics slammed Chyna Doll and accused Brown’s efforts of falling short compared to Ill Na Na, which was praised and sold well. Brown was also seen as not too different from Lil’ Kim, who also wore skimpy, sexy clothes, referenced the mafia, and loved rapping about money. No record label or music critic ever said there were too many male gangsta rappers but the idea that there can only be one woman rapper still persists in 2025. 

In retrospect, both artists pioneered another lane for women rappers that is being mimicked by most of their female descendants in mainstream contemporary rap. “Hot Spot” was the only single from Chyna Doll to chart but the album achieved platinum status two months after its release. Foxy Brown’s legacy is often overlooked because of the comparisons to Lil’ Kim and her leaving rap. Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion are just two of the women rappers to come after Foxy Brown and recognize her contributions. Foxy Brown reunited with Nas, who is one of her colleagues from their supergroup The Firm, to appear on “Full Circle” on his King’s Disease album released in 2020. In 2024, she had a feature on Young Devyn’s “Intro.” 

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Lady Wray releases her single “Hard Times” in preparation for her next album, Cover Girl. “Hard Times” is the second single after “You’re Gonna Win,” and it’s about a resilient love that has survived challenges based on The Clark Sisters’ “You Brought The Sunshine.” Lady Wray’s tribute to the gospel classic takes the uplifting message and flips it for a secular relationship. Cover Girl marks 10 years of Lady Wray collaborating with producer Leon Michels. The throwback aesthetic they created on Queen Alone is still there on “Hard Times,” except they pluck their inspiration from the ’80s instead of the ’60s and ’70s. Cover Girl is Lady Wray’s fourth album and she will go on a North American tour after its release on September 26th. The first show is in Kingston, New York, and it will end in Austin, Texas. Tickets are available at her site. 

Asaka The Renegade’s “Ya’ll Be Safe Tho” has the warmth of the Caribbean in its dancehall flavor.  Asaka’s overtures of love are delivered in the hybrid rhythm of a Jamaican toaster and an American rapper, almost teetering into an Afrobeats kind of vibe. The emerging Detroit artist is still feeling more than the usual encouragement after winning T-Pain’s March Music Madness earlier this year. “Ya’ll Be Safe Tho” is just one side of Asaka’s multi-genre sound. Fans are still locked into the R&B of “Think Of You” that T-Pain shared with followers. “Ya’ll Be Safe Tho” is the prelude to Asaka’s next mixtape coming out in the fall. Stay tuned for more from Asaka as he continues to churn out infectious tunes for the soul.