20 Artists of Hip-Hop Now: Tha Ladies
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Columbia
Queen B
Meet the reigning queen of hip-hop. Beyonce has risen to the forefront of the music business with a powerful voice, stage presence, kickin' curves and amazing dance moves -- not to mention a stellar team of hit-makers. So she happens to be dating hip-hop royalty -- but B's success started long before her relationship.
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Jive
Big Things
She may be small, but Brooklyn's Lil' Mama packs a major punch of sass-itude. Having just arrived on the mainstream industry scene, she's already teamed up with Avril Lavigne for a hip-hop makeover of 'Girlfriend,' and released her debut single 'Lip Gloss' at the same time. OK, so her lyrics so far aren't groundbreaking, but she's a tough-minded girl bravely stepping into a man's world.
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Def Jam
The Good Girl
While relatively new to the spotlight, Barbados-born Rihanna is already laying down her roots in the culture of hip-hop. Collaborations with artists such as Jay-Z -- and being drop-dead gorgeous -- don't hurt, but her claim to fame is a sultry voice that complements even the roughest of rhymes.
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Universal
Remy Reigns
You may not know Remy Ma by name, but you've definitely shaken your booty to the Terror Squad hits like 'Lean Back' that she's loaned her rhymes to. Remy dropped her own album, 'There's Something About Remy: A True Story' in 2006, and hasn't looked back. As one of the few female rappers out there who spits rhymes with the best of 'em, Remy's a key player in the game.
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Zomba
Ingenue
At only 22, Ciara is taking hip-hop by storm, working with some of the indsutry's biggest names and releasing her own mega-hits, including 'Like a Boy.' With a feminine touch that she's not afraid to use, the young artist's success may have something to do with her resolve to pursue the dream she's held since her teens: becoming a famous singer. Looks like she's already there.
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Sony
Kelly Who?
We know, we know. Kelly Rowland is like Beyonce's ugly kid sister who gets no love, but believe it or not, she's actually a powerful force in hip-hop songs. She may still be overshadowed by Mrs. Jay-Z, but with her new Eve collaboration, 'Like This,' Kelly's standing on her own two feet. OK, four, if you include Eve.
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Geffen
Then There Was Eve
It doesn't get much more badass than declaring yourself the queen of something, but in Eve's case, she really had a point. In the late '90s, she was the self-dubbed First Lady of the successful Ruff Ryders crew. While her new video, 'Like This,' with Kelly Rowland, doesn't showcase her raw rapping talent, it reminds us of her influence on the role of women in the hip-hop biz.
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Def Jam
London Flava
Calling herself the "biggest midget in the game," MC Lady Sovereign is one of the biggest new music acts this year with her full-length debut, 'Public Warning.' Known for her brash style and outspoken manner, Lady Sov emerged from the London projects, and she comes by her boldness honestly. These days, she's showing us what 'tough girl' really means.
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