Twenty-five years ago today Queen Latifah released her debut All Hail the Queen; its single "Ladies First", a woman-power anthem that also featured British emcee Monie Love, cemented them in hip-hop’s annals. The song is part celebration—an exercise in recognizing the importance of self—and part resistance, serving a demand for respect. The song is heralded as a landmark for women in hip-hop and heralded a wave of forward-thinking, Afrofeminist awareness that continued to reverberate across the genre and open doors for emcees coming up behind her.
As a celebration of the song’s anniversary, we highlight of some crucial all-female posse cuts that came in the song’s wake.
First, the song itself:
The playful confidence Latifah and Love exude on the cut underscores it’s message of sisterhood; All Hail the Queen shed light on the overall black experience, but Queen Latifah dug deeper, exploring the day-to-day life of black women. No, our experiences are not universal, she seemed to say. At the time of “Ladies First,” posse cuts were neither new nor an anomaly. What was rare, however, was to see (two) women with creative control, making tracks for and about themselves and garnering praise and respect—without a male emcee at the forefront.
Brandy: "I Wanna Be Down" [ft. Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Yo Yo] (1994)
Released in 1994, the remix for "I Wanna Be Down" remains one of the definitive all-female posse cuts. Brandy surprisingly took a step back on the remix, only popping in and out for the sing-a-long chorus, letting these three legends bask in the spotlight.
Lil' Kim: "Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)" [ft. Angie Martinez, Da Brat, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, and Missy Elliott] (1997)
It’s unlikely anyone remembers Nothing to Lose, the 1997 Martin Lawrence/Tim Robbins comedy, though the soundtrack was unforgettable due to the appearance of "Not Tonight" remix appears? Yet "Not Tonight" (and its epic video) endures, featuring women rapping about how great it is to be around other women. The video is everything one could want: the leisure of yacht life, subservient men, and a party in the jungle with friends like Mary J. Blige, SWV, Xscape, and Queen Latifah herself.
Total: "No One Else (Puff Daddy and Rodney Jerkins Remix)" [ft. Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim, and Da Brat] (1995)
While the original "No One Else" fortified its women-power credentials with an appearance by Da Brat, the remix is the lone appearance of both Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown on the same track and serves as a testament to what could have been between the two.
Missy Elliott: "Sock It 2 Me" [ft. Da Brat] (1997)
This song is a statement, one that can be heard in Missy’s slick innuendo and Da Brat’s forceful, spitfire testament to their strength as a duo ("Finally admitted that we the shit combination on this lethal"). "Sock It 2 Me", was the second single from Missy Elliott’s debut, Supa Dupa Fly, but it’s also one of the few lady posse cuts of that era that didn’t stem from a remix.
Various Artists: "Freedom (Rap Version)" [ft. Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Yo Yo, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, MC Lyte, Nefertiti, Patra, and Me'Shell Ndegéocello]
Seemingly, Dallas Austin was looking to create a posse cut to end all posse cuts in "We Are The World" fashion with the remake of early neo-soul singer and Dungeon Family affiliate Joi’s "Freedom". Enlisting the help of at least 60 female artists across hip-hop, R&B and pop—including SWV, Vanessa Williams, Mary J Blige, and Aaliyah—the new "Freedom" reached the Top 20 and served as the single for 1995 film Panther. The single also came with a pared down rap-only version, which features Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Yo Yo, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, MC Lyte, Nefertiti, Patra, and Me'Shell Ndegéocello. Even without some of the biggest singers and stars of the '90s, the rap version stands up perfectly fine on its own—a rare moment in hip-hop that finds women centering themselves and reaffirming each other, with Yo Yo proclaiming that "No matter what's the weather/ Sisters gotta stick together."
Big Kap: "Da Ladies in Da House" [ft. Bahamadia, Precise, Treep, Uneek & Lauryn Hill] (1995)
If Queen Latifah kicked open the door for U.N.I.T.Y. amongst women in hip-hop, Philly’s own Bahamadia was one of the loudest and proudest to walk through it (followed closely by Missy Elliot and Rah Digga). Bahamadia was a staple on posse cuts throughout the '90s, but it was Funkmaster Flex’s partner Big Kap’s "Da Ladies in Da House" that became one of the more widely recognized. "Da Ladies in Da House" is more cypher than song with each emcee showcasing her lyrical prowess as if to further prove to any who may have doubted them. The production couldn’t sound more retro nearly two decades later, but the verses have aged gracefully with L Boogie’s show-stealing anchor verse.
Ludacris: "My Chick Bad (Remix)" [ft. Diamond, Trina & Eve]
The remix of Ludacris’ "My Chick Bad" actually found Luda taking a backseat on his own song to make room for Crime Mob’s Diamond, Trina and Eve to flex their muscles–a fitting move for a cut from an album titled Battle of the Sexes (originally slated to be a joint effort with Shawnna who would’ve certainly been a welcome addition here). And flex they do, remaining true to form with Diamond and Trina bringing the sex-driven rhymes and all three touting bravado that could rival any of their male counterparts. Nicki Minaj also appears in the video (though she doesn’t rap, unfortunately) alongside Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and 2 Chainz, all of whom become background to effectively shine a nostalgia-inducing spotlight on three of the most dynamic female rappers of the early 2000s.
Gangsta Boo & La Chat: "Bitchy" [ft. Mia X] (2014)
When two Southern legends like Three 6 Mafia’s leading lady Gangsta Boo and La Chat get together, there’s not really a lot that could go wrong. Add some menacing production from DJ Paul and it might as well be '98 or maybe '01 again. Throw in another icon like No Limit’s Mia X and the result is "Bitchy", the lead single from Boo and La Chat’s joint project Witch released earlier this year. An ostensible nod to DJ Jimi’s "Bitches (Reply)" (also sampled in Project Pat’s "Chickenhead"), "Bitchy" is hardly the self-deprecating track its name may lead one to believe. The trio is cutthroat, mincing no words as they call men to task, demanding that they be generous financially and sexually, and even then, as La Chat notes, they could still end up used. It’s a modern take on an old trope that Mia X sums up in the second verse: "We independent women standing on our own two/ You can't sell us dreams, show us what you gon’ do."
Dreezy: "Zero" [ft. Sasha Go Hard and Katie Got Bandz] (2013)
The future of rap looks especially bright in Chicago with this cadre of young powerhouses coming up. Tink, Sasha Go Hard, Katie Got Bandz, and Dreezy have all found success outside of the Chi and brought substantial attention to the city-- “Zero” has the makings of a new gen feminist rap classic.