#MTVBaseHottestMCs put some respek on female rap

The 2018 MTV Base Hottest MCs list was hotly debated as usual, but we were pleased to see female rappers represented this year. 

You don’t have to travel too far back in time to recall years when the annual Hottest MCs list was not just dominated by men, it was exclusively filled with men. Gigi Lamayne cracked the list in 2016, coming at number 10, but in the years prior to that there were no female rappers to be seen. 

Fast forward to 2018 and the landscape appears to be changing for the better. While there’s still some work to go in achieving equality between the sexes (not just in entertainment but in South African society as a whole) it was pleasing to see three of South Africa’s most talented female rappers being counted among the best MCs in the country. 

Nadia Nakai, Rouge and Moozlie all made the top 10 this year and their reactions on social media said it all:

Top 5…hmmm not bad at all☺️☺️

But yall know me..
The work continues.

Thanks guys 😘😘

Back to the music and building.
❤️❤️❤️

— Rouge (@Rouge_Rapper) December 6, 2018

Just means I gotta work harder next year!!!!! At least I made the list! ❤️❤️ #AllLove

— BRAGGA (@Nadia_nakai) December 6, 2018

#MoozlieVictory No.9 😁🚀🔥🇿🇦 https://t.co/sjPPZBr5YP

— #MoozlieVictory🏆 (@NoMoozlie) December 6, 2018

We could have seen another entry too; Boity, who has enjoyed an impressive debut year, was an outsider for this year’s Top 10 which means we could have had four women in the top 10, versus having none four years ago. 

It’s certainly progress, and that’s without taking away from the fact that our industry still has a lot to work on before we can reach true equality between the sexes. One needs only look at the reactions to some of this year’s Hottest MCs to see how toxic masculinity is still trying to hold women back from succeeding in hip hop (and indeed in life).

1.first Female to be nominated for best hip hop album @SAMMAS
2.The first rapper in SA to ever win a SAFTA
3.Won best music video at the SAMMAs
4.if you also talking about @Rouge_Rapper not “Rogue” is also the nominated at #SAHHA2018.(hustle of the year)
5.she’s independent 😪 https://t.co/g9bW2DKbI5

— Zitha (@cuinicaz) December 6, 2018

Nadia cemented the list after being ranked as the 10th best rapper in the country, with Moozlie one position above her in 9th. The impressive Rouge, who has enjoyed a strong year, cracked the top half with a 5th placed finish.

10- Nadia Nakai
9- Moozlie
8- Riky Rick
7- Anatii
6- Shane
5- Rouge
4- Cassper Nyovest
3- Nasty C
2- AKA
1- Kwesta

What do yall think about the list? #BaseHottestMCs

— Mahadi Lehlongoane 🍒 (@SimplyMahadi) December 6, 2018

What did you think of the MTV Base Hottest MCs list?

Main image credit: Instagram/@nadianakai/@lashshots