Yesterday (March 8) marked International Women’s Day. Like all cultural movements, Hip-Hop has depended upon women for survival since its inception. In 2015, there are a host of female superstars, moguls, and elite professionals at the top of culture and Rap industry. However, along the way over the last 35-plus years, there have been many pioneers, exceptional MCs, DJs, and artists who helped us all (women, men, etc.) arrive here.

Dope Folks Music (Ras Kass, Tha Alkaholiks, Black Sheep)  put together an exceptional mix of Hip-Hop songs made by female artists that showcase immense talent, true innovators, and some of the lesser-profiled voices, styles, and words that made this thing of ours all the better:

Here is the tracklist:

Cinque — Operation Desert Storm
Julee Vee — Power 2 Tha Womanhood
Shazzy — Giggahoe
Sweet Tee — As the Beat Goes On
Ms. Nikki D. — Work that Sucker
Ms. Melodie — To Sing All Night
MC Lovely — Gash Your Whole Head Up
Antoinette — Who’s the Boss
Pure & Natural — Startin’ Funky
Nu Black Nation — Soul Vibration
Princess Tee — (Edit)
Sonyalive — I’m Coming into Consciousness
Sundance — A Better Day
Roxanne Shante — Straight Razor
Isis — In the Mind of One
Kyna Antee aka The Mistress — Let it Go
The Queen of Ghetto Madness — It’s time For me To Run
MC L & Tone Tee – Where Did You Get That MC L Jam?
Cookie Crew — Secrets of Success (Cooks Mix)
T-Love — I’m Coming
MC Lyte — Poor Georgie

Props to ego trip! for hipping us.

Related: Living Legends: MC Lyte (Playlist)