The Difference Between Male & Female Rappers: Why Do We Make The Distinction?

I have listened to and studied the works of dozens of emcees over the years and frankly, I'm astonished by the separation of gender within the rap genre. All this time, I have repeatedly heard divisive phrases such as "my favorite female rapper" or "the best female lyricist." Personally, I find such language to be destructive, not only to the Hip-Hop culture, but to the very essence of poetry and lyricism in general. 

What I mean to say is that one wouldn't say, for example, that "(insert name) is the greatest Asian or Latino rapper." To divide artists in such a way, based on race or ethnicity, would be insulting. So why is it seemingly okay to do the exact same thing in regards to gender?

Let's look at it this way: When it comes to athleticism, we as people are used to separating men and women to keep things equal. From a physiological stand-point, there are many key differences between the two genders. Simply put, men and women are built differently. Most people would agree that if the best athletes, male & female, were to compete in the same event, regardless of gender, males would dominate nearly every sport in human existence. But is the same true when it comes to musical or artistic ability? The short answer: No.

No doubt there are differences in the ways in which men and women both think and express themselves, but truthfully, the same could be said about any two individuals, even if they are the same gender. Music and art occupy such a vast spectrum of expression that it's honestly impossible to objectively judge who is the best lyricist or emcee alive; all we have are personal preferences. And sure, one could calculate who has the largest vocabulary or who has spent the most number of hours writing and reciting lyrics, or even who has the largest fanbase, but because all performers and listeners are unique, no one can truly be "the best." Men are not inherently better writers, just as women are not inherently better singers. No one can objectively have the best voice or the best style, as such distinctions are purely subjective preferences. Anyway, Hip-Hop is too big and all-inclusive for us to separate and compare artists based on race, background, nationality, and yes, even gender.

So there you have it: we're all in this together and I think it's time we stop dividing ourselves and begin uniting for the love of Hip-Hop. 

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