Women rappers are really having a moment right now. Sure there have been periods of time where female rappers have shown up and made waves, and artists like Lauryn Hill and Nicki Minaj have paved the way for entirely different approaches to rap and hip hop than had been explored by their male counterparts. But I’ve never seen so many female rappers in so many different styles of hip hop be this popular all at the same time.
This is of course a good thing. The world could always use more diversity and representation, so it’s exciting to see women getting their due, or at least a small portion of it, in a field where they’ve been so marginalized and actively maligned.
One of the most recent female rappers to pop off was Doja Cat. While Doja Cat primarily owes her popularity to her impressive ear for pop hooks and catchy melodies and beats, she’s got an impressive skill level when it comes to rapping. Her breakout hit “Juicy” might not be the most lyrically complex song, but the melodies and inflections she creates with her phrasing is a fascinating case study in how to compose a rap verse.
Outside of her more hip hop driven songs she’s shown an impressive ear for smooth R&B and pop styled music. This direction can be heard prominently on her 2019 record Hot Pink and is going to lend itself excellently to a show at the modestly sized Novo when she takes the stage there on 4/14.
Location: The Novo
Address: 800 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, California 90015-1360
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