Ke Turner's Top 10 Women MCs

In 1992, about Yo-Yo’s sophomore record, Joan Morgan wrote in Spin Magazine “One year later, her outrage continues to provide a voice for those who lack a means of expression, especially when life explodes in their faces and outside their doors.” Because of how much hip-hop has changed, and how quickly, the album “Black Pearl” has been largely lost to history. That’s where Queue Points comes in. We are reminiscing about a Black hip-hop feminist classic, “Black Pearl.”

Also, it’s Pride month, and we are going to be discussing the seminal classic “I Was Born This Way,” the first song to feature lyrics about being an out and proud gay man. Performed, in its original form, by Charles Valentino and made again by Carl Bean, the song has a long and interesting history worth revisiting.

In 1990, a white rapper named Tairrie B. emerged onto the hip-hop scene with her debut album, Power of a Woman. 

According to Queue Points co-host DJ Sir Daniel, “we cannot talk about what's been going on in the movement of hip-hop music and women on the mic and not talk about the phenomenon known as the white girl rapper,” he said. “Everybody in hip hop has had a voice, including white women, believe it or not.”

Oftentimes, covers of songs don’t get the same respect as the original. Sometimes the performing artist phones it in, or the style of the cover just doesn’t work. When it does work, though, a cover version can rival that of the original, and, in some cases, improve on it. Join us for this show as we cover … covers.

DJ R-Tistc is a global DJ who has rocked parties for celebrities and events internationally. He dropped in on Queue Points to discuss his career, how he stays ready for gigs and his thoughts on how DJs have been treated in recent weeks.

When you mention a year in a song, it’s a final act. That song is now forever associated with the year you reference. Also, it can date a song that, for the artist, is an eternal piece of art. It’s our belief that there’s really no down side to including the year in a song, it actually serves as a memorialization of sorts.

With the 2022 release of Joey Bada$$’s 2000 the Queue Points crew began reflecting about songs that featured a year in the title. 

As hip-hop stars have attained more fame and notoriety, many have made humanitarianism part of their brand. In a feel-good story this week, The Weeknd flew a 6 year old fan to his Philadelphia show after a Toronto cancellation. A gracious act that the child’s father remarked “I wouldn’t be able to put this last week into words if I tried.”

On this show we’re going to explore the fun history of hip-hop philanthropists.

In a recent article on Okayplayer, producer Dame Grease recalls producing DMX’s breakout single “Get At Me Dog.” When discussing what DMX listened to in the studio and of what inspired him most, Grease recalls “Disco was pretty much the only music we listened to. It helped X relax. He used to have this big ass CD case and it was filled with disco, funk, and soul; there wasn’t one rap record in there. The only rap shit was by X himself.”

In this article, originally published on STATICC.com, Jay Ray discusses three Hip-Hop songs inspired by Disco.

There’s always something new when it comes to hip-hop fashion. Causing a cause for uproar, and extended discussion recently, has been the popularization of shorts that come down to mid-thigh - colloquially named “hoochie daddy shorts.” Join us for a fun conversation about hip-hop men’s fashion through the years and the time in which those looks arose.

Is it inspiration, or is it imitation that’s created your newest favorite song? The growth of TikTok began in 2017, and became the latest juggernaut used by the music industry to determine what is a hit, or even create them. Artists are having to choose between being original or being viral, and it’s impacting how they create and how we listen. We’re going to talk about Black music in the Tiktok era.

Joining us for this show is Queens-bred MC, Medino Green, as we continue to celebrate #Pride2022. Green’s new single “CLAP” is out now!