Emcees Are Lucky She Doesn't Rap

Not to mention, her kids have the hottest emcees blood running through their veins.

Erykah Badu is the most commercially successful hip hop artist out. Yes, I am aware of who has deemed themselves the hottest rapper alive, who claims to be the king of New York and who's album sold the most. And there are many factors to suggest that Badu isn't even considered a hip hop artist:

1. She is a woman. Most hip hop artists are men.

2. She doesn't rap. Most hip hop artists are rappers.

But rap, isn't the only criteria for being hip hop. And, with all things considered, Erykah Badu writes better lyrics and rides the beat better than all of your favorite rappers combined.

Erykah Badu understands the legacy of of hip hop. It began as a voice for the underserved, black community. It was creative, witty, yet inspirational and party-oriented. It was serious, it was silly. And even when it seemed demeaning, or outright scary, there was always hope for change. To the detriment of many hip hop artists, many don't understand that the music associated with hip hop comes with a responsibility that other genres do not. Hip hop wants you to be proud of your roots, celebrate your gains, but not remember who was left behind.

Part of Erykah Badu was molded from the Yo Yos and Queen Latifahs of hip hop. She is sassy, serious, yet can rock over the most monsterous beats. Part of Erykah Badu is the old school classics that hip hop is sampled from. The blaring soprano of Chaka Khan and the moody blues of Lady Day. See, when you listen to an Erykah Badu album, you are getting the future and the past all in one.

What makes Badu so hip hop is her combination of understanding the "people," yet understanding that the people love the beat. It's an exquisite dance that she performs on her latest release, New Amerykah Part One, where she waxes poetically over the dirtiest of hip hop beats, falling right into place. Never has Badu sounded like a ridiculous R&B singer over a hip hop beat. From day one, she has always had the head nodding beats with the message of the hood in the lyrics.

She addresses, not only the ills of the hood with understanding, unlike most emcees. She speaks to the women of the black community. Now, which one of your favorite female rappers can claim to be the voice of the people. And no, Lil' Mama doesn't count. Where is there a song of sympathy for the woman who has fallen in love with the drug dealer, like The Otherside of the Game? Where is the song for the woman who is not trying to be a player, but loves two mean like Next Lifetime? And what female hip hop artist has ever been so supportive and concerned with the plight of the black male, as seen in Time's A Wastin?

She sums it up in her ode to hip hop, Love Of My Life, a female take on Common's jewel, I Used To Love Her. The remix, featuring Queen Latifah, Bahamadia and Angie Stone further illustrates her understanding of the genre, unlike many of her peers.

Badu has been the only woman who has managed to have her audience accept her creativity, while working with the hottest hip hop producers and keep her sexy without selling out. I know Badu is an emcee. For whatever reason, she hasn't let that part of her repetoire shine in full display. But all these emcees better be lucky she doesn't rap...yet. Because I'm sure she would shut the game down.