Before the Atlantic slave trade, African people would use music and performance in multiple ways such as, individual expression, historical memory, and ritual. During the enslavement of Africans in the United States, music became vital for the enslaved population. Singing, in particular, was essential for enslaved Africans. Slave songs, or negro spirituals, were often sung by enslaved Black women while they worked in fields, and in secret meeting places.
Over time, Black people, especially Black women, became the backbone of music-making in early America and continue to have a significant impact on the music industry today. However, throughout history, Black women have often been denied the respect they deserve for their contributions to the music industry. Navigating the field with the layered identities of being both Black and female, Black women frequently experience misogynoir, which affects their experiences in the music world. This form of misogyny is rooted in stereotypes and prejudices about their demographic, influencing how Black women are treated and marketed in the industry. For example, Black women have often been labeled as difficult to get along with, which has positioned them in a constant state of comparison and competition, particularly in the eyes of the audience.
Despite their significant contributions to American music and culture, the history of Black women in music is often forgotten or erased. In a male-dominated industry, many Black women have struggled to combat the belief that women cannot achieve the same level of success as men in the same field. In genres such as rap, jazz, blues, and R&B, Black women have had to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to achieve similar recognition, yet many still do not receive the acknowledgment they deserve. They are often overlooked or oversexualized to attract attention, regardless of their talent.
Early music and the Harlem renaissance In the United States, the introduction of new styles of music came during the Transatlantic Slave Trade era. The genres of music include, but are not limited to, blues, rock, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop. African-American women in the music industry have made significant contributions over the years. Stigmas surrounding African-American women during the 20th century may have made it difficult for them to have a strong presence in mainstream music. Despite this, women were still authoritative in genres of blues, jazz, and R&B.
Jazz African-American women have played a significant role in shaping jazz, a music genre with American roots, characterized by improvisation and a fusion of several music traditions, such as gospel, blues, and ragtime. Despite being a historically male-dominated genre, African-American women contributed as both singers and instrumentalists. A key factor for women gaining acceptance amid the prevalence of racism and sexism within this industry was the piano, an instrument deemed socially acceptable for female performers compared to brass and woodwind instruments. These gender-based stereotypes, however, created a negative stigma, making it difficult for women to succeed as individual performers. This trend changed during World War II, as the draft left an opportunity for women to gain popularity and build their image within the jazz scene. Moreover, as jazz evolved over the decades, gender-based discrimination steadily declined allowing female musicians, instrumentalists, and singers alike to establish themselves.
Amongst influential figures such as Dolly Jones and Valaida Snow, Mary Lou Williams emerged as a pianist and composer, widely regarded as one of America's best-known and most revered jazz women. Williams first gained recognition and support from within her hometown, where she developed into one of the most "sought after pianists in Kansas City". Through her compositions, Williams is said to have influenced the evolution of the "big band" sound. Based on her writing techniques, Williams gained the opportunity to compose for many well known jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. After moving to New York in the early 1940s, a new style of music and sub-genre of jazz, known as “bebop” emerged, which drew on her compositions and influence. Later, Williams went on to lead various women's music groups and founded one of the first women-owned recording companies, Mary Records.
Another influential figure in jazz is Billie Holiday, a Philadelphia-born singer. Despite no formal musical training, Holiday was discovered by John Hammond in the 1930s, marking the beginning of her stardom. Her distinctive sound was influenced by her background and personal experiences. Also known by the alias “Lady Day” which was given to her by close friend and colleague Lester Young, she collaborated with many people including Duke Ellington. In 1938, Holiday made history as the first African American women to work with an all white orchestra, alongside Artie Shaw. Her most known work, Strange Fruit, is recognized for addressing the African American experience. Its influence can be seen through samples and covers by contemporary artists such as Diana Ross, Kanye West, and John Legend. Ultimately, Holiday achieved significant success despite her personal battles with addiction which took a toll on her health, leading to her death in 1959.
Beyond female jazz pioneers, such as Mary Lou Williams and Billie Holiday, several other African American women have contributed to the jazz genre. Among the most notable are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Hazel Scott, and Lil Hardin Armstrong.
Blues The 1920s blues, known as the classic blues, was a genre largely popularized by African-American women. Singers such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, and Ethel Waters were the most popular. Ma Rainey, referred to as the "Mother of the Blues", became popular in the early 1900s. Rainey was the first popular black women stage entertainer to incorporate authentic blues into her song selection. She is known for the "Jump Blues" which incorporated a racy and theatrical style. Bessie Smith, who was known as the "empress of the blues" showcased the classic blues. Smith started her professional career as a dancer in the Moses Stokes Company which Rainey was the lead singer of at the time.
Male-dominated country blues grew in popularity and women fell out of the spotlight for a while because of this. During the 1960s blues revival, about 30 years later, Mamie Smith became the first black women vocalist to record a blues song. While "Crazy Blues" is cited as the first blues recording and also represents the emergence of black women singers into popular music culture. Both black and white consumers purchased the record, and record company executives recognized it as a lucrative marketing segment.
R&B and its descendants
R&B Soul and R&B have their roots in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. While these genres have primarily focused on breaking down racial barriers between black and white Americans most of the singers within this genre had Southern roots. They used their music to voice opinions, concerns, and emotions about life. Artists in this genre include Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bessie Smith, and Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin, gained prominence in the 1960s. Franklin signed her record deal at the age of eighteen after singing at her church in Detroit. Some of the most highlighted collaborations were with musicians having a background in gospel music. By reinventing herself musically, she achieved remarkable success, including five number-one hits and a Grammy. In 1967 and 1968, Franklin reached commercial success, recording more than a dozen million-selling singles. Mahalia Jackson was another woman artist known as the "Queen of Gospel" who had an impact on the civil rights movement with her songs. Aretha Franklin covered one of her more popular songs, "How I Got Over". It was a more upbeat version with James Cleveland and The Southern California Community Choir. Both Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson had major songs during the civil rights movement: Franklin's version of Otis Redding's "Respect" and Jackson's "I've Been 'Buked and I've Been Scorned", which she performed at the march on Washington after being asked by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Despite their role in popularizing black music and culture, few black women are recognized in the emergence of rap and hip-hop culture in the 1970s-1980s.
Rap
A version of hip hop emerged in the 1990s that transformed the upbeat music of earlier decades into a thought provoking awareness of the world which seemed to romanticize poverty, drug use, drug dealing and gang violence. Popular Female artists in this genre include Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Cardi-B, and Salt-N-Pepa. MC Sha-Rock was named the "mother of the mic as she was the first Female emcee in hip hop. She then joined the hip hop group that were the first ever to receive a record deal called "The Funky 4+1." Sha-Rock helped push Rap into a mainstream spotlight for the rest of America and the world. This genre of music has been criticized for sexually objectifying not only women of color but all women. Artists such as Monie Love and Queen Latifah made music that empowered women, and called for unity between female artists. Latifah and Love's hit single "Ladies First" celebrates women across the music industry. Artists such as Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Eve were applauded for their efforts as they changed the atmosphere for female artists with their innovation. Hill was a multi-purpose artist, meaning she wrote, produced, and performed her music on her own. Hill was awarded 5 Grammy's in 1999 for her efforts. In modern years of Rap, women's images have become just as important as their musical skill. Modern Female artists such as Saweetie, Megan Thee Stallion, and the City Girls use their sex appeal as the focal point of their music. The language used in modern rap music has been criticized by critics for the prevalence of slang terms such as "bitch," "hoe," "slut," or "thot". Social media has now become part of the music industry as a way for these women to promote music in many ways as these songs go viral and are backed by trends. Some of these women have become the top selling female artists of all time. Additionally, Cardi B and Doechii are the only female solo artists to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Women are also back on top of the charts with the songs rapped by Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Lizzo, and many more.
Female rappers point of view