Ladies First: A Story Of Women In Hip-Hop is a new docuseries coming to Netflix. Women’s history in hip-hop is chronicled from early emcees like Sha-Rock to current rappers like Latto and Coi Leray. Hip-Hop is having its 50th year of existence and this docuseries is a timely contribution to all the canonizing celebrations. The trailer features MC Lyte who is also an executive producer, along with other women such as Tierra Whack, Rapsody and Queen Latifah sharing their perspectives. Viewers have already complained about the absence of Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott but Shawn Allen who worked on the series posted. on Twitter that both artists refused to license their music and videos. Ladies First will debut the first of a four-part series on August 9th. 

Da Brat made history as the first woman rapper to have a platinum album with her 1994 debut Funkdafied. Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal Jr. built the third single, “Give It 2 You”  around a sample of “All Night Long” by the Mary Jane Girls.  Da Brat’s confident promise to command the party got better with each verse elevated by a courtly funk groove. The video was a ’90s rap and R&B spectacular with appearances from MC Lyte, T-Boz, Mary J. Blige, Keith Murray, The Notorious B.I.G., Goodie Mob, Da Bush Babees, Big Lez, Too Short and comedian Bill Bellamy. Funkdafied won the Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best Rap Album and Billboard awards for Top Hot Rap Artist and Top Hot Rap Single for the title track. Da Brat’s fourth album Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz was released in 2003 and the single “Is It Chu” surfaced in 2013. Da Brat has appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, The Rap Game and Growing Up Hip-Hop: Atlanta. She has been the co-host of the Rickey Smiley Show since 2015. The rap legend married her partner Jessica Dupart in 2022 after they co-starred on their show Brat Loves Judy. 

Missy, Lil Kim, Da Brat, Yo-Yo, Lady of Rage, MC Lyte and Total took to the stage to pay tribute to Kool and The Gang with a performance of “Ladies Night” at the Soul Train Awards. Eric Benet sang the lead to the original song and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was acknowledged for her part as well. It was the first time in 16 years they had performed their hip-hop version of Kool and The Gang’s 1979 hit.