Aside from newcomer Nikki Minaj, there is no female presence in the mainstream rap scene, and even she epitomizes the stereotypical model of what many consider an uncouth female rap Barbie. What happened to the days when we could boogie to Lauryn Hill, talk about U.N.I.T.Y. with Queen Latifah, and rock a party with MC Lyte? Not to mention Bahamadia and Medusa, who also opened doors to artists like Jean Grae (who indisputably remains one of my favorite lyricists ever). Even with the reign of Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, the game changed. As rap music grew to be more commercialized, it became even harder for female emcees to get recognition unless they were imparting sex in the most crude and tactless way.

As a woman and lover of hip hop music, witnessing this transition put a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully, I was not alone in feeling this way. Prompted by the lack of talented artists within hip hop culture’s mainstream, freelance writer Glennisha Morgan decided to act. In 2008, Glennisha founded The Fembassy, a platform created to acknowledge female emcees and act as a vehicle to promote their music across the world.

If you were like me, you may have not heard of The Fembassy prior reading this. On The Fembassy website, http://thefembassy.com, you can find interviews, features, performance videos, and more. Trust me when I say, it is one of hip hop’s best kept secrets; but not for long. I was able to catch up with the originator, and share her vision and purpose with all of you.

Glennisha Morgan, Founder of The Fembassy

Krysten Hughes: What made you realize that there was a need and a demand to start a platform like The Fembassy?

Glennisha Morgan: When Ego Trip’s Miss Rap Supreme [reality television show that aired on VH1 in 2008, hosted by MC Serch and YoYo] came out, I was very excited. When it went off the air, I realized that there was nothing that highlighted female emcees. I’m a hip hop head and I noticed a tremendous change in hip hop music. You have to basically dig and go underground to find the music, it’s not at the forefront.

KH: How did you get into promoting and supporting female emcees?

GM: It started out with a blog and from there it grew. I started searching the internet for different performances by female emcees and album releases and I started to post the information for others to see.

Check Out Mae Day Freestyles At The Foundation Part I

KH: What do you think makes a great female emcee?

GM: With any emcee, you have to know the basics, ride the beat, and rhyme over beats. Completely put together a song. There are a lot of artists that know how to freestyle, but don’t know how to put together a nice track. Your lyrics have to be on point. Some artists have a great beat but aren’t really talking about anything in their songs.

KH: Who are some of your favorite femcees right now that you think that the game is missing?

GM: Mae Dae from Detroit, Siya from Atlanta, Fiona Simone, Eternia, Invincible, RA the Emcee, Khaos Da Rapper, Amanda Diva, Kin4Life, and Tiye Phoenix.

Check Out Invincible Performs “Shapeshifters” at The Foundation @ 5E Gallery

KH: What do you think are some of the reasons behind the lack of recognition that female emcees receive in the media and mainstream? Who is to blame?

GM: Misogyny plays a huge part in it. Not just within hip hop culture, but in society period. I think that there are a lot of female emcees that would crush some of the male emcees right now and I think some people are scared of that. Female emcees aren’t really selling, but even that has a lot to deal with misogyny. I don’t think that people really know how to market female emcees. They want them to look a certain way, and be sexy. They have to realize that there is not just one type of female or one image. We don’t all rock lace front wigs and super high stilettos and purses.

KH: What is your opinion on female rappers with raunchy and crude lyrics and their representation in the music industry?

GM: I am not particularly mad at the female artists that do such. Everyone has their own lane. When it comes to art and music, it’s not one dimensional. But I do think that when the female emcees like Lil’ Kim and Foxy that came out super sexed up and selling sex, I think it really changed the game. Before that you did not see it as much. But once it changed, now it is all you see and we can’t get past that. It does make it harder because we can’t seem to rise above that. Queen Latifah, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Bahamadia it wasn’t a problem. People need to see that this isn’t the only type of female emcee out there. However, I have no problem with women expressing themselves and being open with their sexuality as long as people can see that there is another side as well.

KH: What are some of your long term goals to changing the status quo?

GM: My long term goal is to let everyone see that there are other artists out there that aren’t mainstream, but deserve recognition. I also would like to put female emcees back at the forefront. Do tours, conferences and bring women in hip hop together, share information and learn from each other.

Check Out Mz Jonz Performs “Here On My Own” at The Foundation

KH: Tell us about the compilation video that you are currently working on.

GM: The compilation video is a collection of performances that I had a chance to video tape myself. I have performances from Detroit, North Carolina and New York. Wherever I can catch these performers. I am still in the process of editing the video but it will be completed soon.

KH: What food for thought would you suggest people reflect on?

GM: A lot of people keep asking where are the female emcees, and they are out there. The people that keep asking that question aren’t really searching for them. Use Google and find the female emcees. They exist! You’re not going to see them on the television or local radio but they do exist.

You can find out more about Glennisha Morgan at http://GlennishaTheWriter.com.

Visit The Fembassy at http://thefembassy.com

Check out Miz Korona Performing At MU Today U Tomorrow Benefit

http://www.vimeo.com/8935808

TAGS: Amanda Diva, B-Girl, Bahamadia, Eternia, Female Rapper, Fembassy, Femcee, Fiona Simone, Foxy Brown, Glennisha Morgan, Hip Hop, Invincible, Jean Grae, Khaos Da Rapper, Kin4Life, Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Mae Dae, MC Lyte, Nikki Minaj, Performance, Queen Latifah, RA the Emcee, Roxanne Shante, Show, Siya, Tiye Phoenix, YoYo