Women have been integral to hip-hop from the beginning, contributing to its growth despite encountering barriers and significant challenges. As early icons like MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah used the their bold lyrical styles to advocate for women's rights, they paved the way for Lil' Kim, Missy Elliott, and Ms. Lauryn Hill to command the spotlight in the '90s and 00s through their diverse expressions of confidence, femininity, and allure.
Today we are in a golden era of women in hip-hop, one in which MCs like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Doja Cat have simultaneously enjoyed unprecedented success. To celebrate this renaissance, Spotify hosted The Gold Standard, a special art exhibit in NYC spotlighting the new generation of women in hip-hop, celebrating their influence on music and culture from 2018 to today.
Featuring the work of fine artist Manon Biernacki, The Gold Standard features Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, City Girls, Saweetie, Latto, Sexyy Red, Ice Spice, GloRilla, and Flo Milli as subjects in a series of Spotify-commissioned portraits.
Sexyy Red attends The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Cardi B (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Doja Cat (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Megan Thee Stallion (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Latto (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Sexyy Red (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Saweetie (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Ice Spice (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Flo Milli (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
GloRilla (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
JT of City Girls. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Yung Miami of City Girls. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
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Following a Renaissance theme, each piece in the series nods to each woman's artistic mastery and honors their contributions in shaping the genre.
A playlist like Feelin' Myself continues to prove that there is strong demand for women in hip-hop and the music they make. The listeners are often early adopters, and they tend to go hard for their faves, said Briana Younger, Spotify Editorial Lead, Hip-Hop. Over the years, we've seen more women than ever breaking out and having these big cultural moments that energize people. The playlist is best for being a snapshot of the most recent stuff, but with the exhibit, we wanted to showcase the longevity of this era. All of the women we included and even others that we didn't-they aren't just one-hit wonders or has-beens. They've consistently been a part of the conversation, evolving the way artists can function and have success in this landscape, and it's important to celebrate that.
The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Latto and Flo Milli attend The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Latto attends The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Flo Milli attends The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Manon Biernacki attends The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
Manon Biernacki speaks at The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
The Gold Standard: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop Presented by Spotify. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Spotify)
NEXT
Spotify has been proud to support the rise of women in hip-hop through special moments like The Gold Standard. From their expressive lyricism to their kaleidoscopic personalities, these women paint the town red, and we'll continue to amplify them as they raise the bar for artistic excellence.
Discover more of the biggest hits from rap's leading women on Feelin' Myself.
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Women have been integral to hip-hop from the beginning, contributing to its growth despite encountering barriers and significant challenges. As early icons like MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah used the their bold lyrical styles to advocate for women's rights, they paved the way for Lil' Kim, Missy Elliott, and Ms. Lauryn Hill to command the spotlight in the '90s and 00s through their diverse expressions of confidence, femininity, and allure. 
