User:Brooklyn Girl/sandbox

hip hop========

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Before hip hop became a mainstream genre, artists seldom made money from their performances. During the pioneering years of hip hop, one's reputation on the block was of more importance to the MCs and DJs. A popular MC needed to have a style that replicated that of Black radio hosts and great rhymes. As opposed to DJs who needed to have the best sound system to play at local hip hop "jams". During this time, men were at the forefront of the hip hop scene but women had their own crews that were comparable to those of the men. The first all-female hip hop group was the Mercedes Ladies. They were known for their unique flow and they laid the foundation for other all-female crews such as Mellow-D, the Choice Girls and the Cheba Girls. Some female hip artists went a different route than the women of Mercedes Ladies. There were women who joined male crews which allowed them to perform on a more public stage. The first female MC was Sha-Rock and she joined the Funky Four in 1976. She was known for her mastery of the echo chamber which changed the genre of hip hop. Another reputable MC is Pebblee-Poo who was the first female MC of Kool Herc and the Herculoids in the mid 1970's. Lastly, Missy Dee was scouted by Grandmaster Flash and later joined the Herculoids. However, she was underage which made it difficult for club performances so she was replaced by Peblee-Poo. Even though she was no longer in the group she went on to create classics with her crew Mellow-D.======