Women hip-hoppers take action

Over the past year, the hip-hop feminist movement has congealed -- somewhat magically, writes Julianne Shepherd at Cowboys 'n' Poodles. "About a year ago, Spelman College initiated a boycott of Nelly for his graphic, misogynistic video for the song "Tip Drill"; subsequently, the Ying Yang Twins were barred from performing at Florida Atlantic University for their women-degrading lyrics.

Jeff Chang gives props to "Shepherd's brilliant piece on the B-girl Be Festival," where Shepherd continues: "To some, these events and activities look like signposts that the ladies are getting organized: It's too soon to call it, but the signs are there for a critical mass of hip-hop feminism, which could, ideally, change the way women--especially women of color--are viewed in the hip-hop mainstream." (Cowboys 'n' Poodles, Can't Stop, Won't Stop)