http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/apr/12/nicki-minaj-female-rapper?INTCMP=SRCH
Nicki Minaj and the rise of the titillating female rapper

''as hip hop has become more mainstream, the shift in expectations of women has led to a new reality: a successful female artist must not only be talented, but also able to titillate the gaze of an assumed male viewer''

''At that time, it was not unusual to see women attired in Cross Colours, sneakers, and baggy jeans. If a woman chose a different look, it was just one of many. Even more mainstream groups such as Salt-N-Pepa and TLC were able to lace their lyrics with stories of female sexual autonomy, not just bedroom prowess. However, when Lil Kim erupted on the scene with her debut album Hardcore and Foxy Brown tore up airwaves with Ill Na Na, their popularity heralded a sea change in the way female rappers are perceived. ''

''In order to enjoy mainstream success, the requirement is for women in rap to be as physically attractive as they are lyrically proficient.''

''Her paper, Step Your Pussy Up: Nicki Minaj and the Signifyin(g) Tropes of Hardcore Female Rap, explains."The female body is rarely a site of empowerment except when it is being objectified to define female strength through heterosexist sexiness, which, displayed for male satisfaction, creates little real power for women. Because female rappers' value lies in their ability to perform masculinity as well as be sexually objectified, when a femcee is not performing the role of the sexually available coquette nor the female thug, her power and agency are nonexistent."

''While the same tropes still hold, one can only hope that eventually the increasing female representation in rap will lead to women challenging the norms of the male-dominated space, not just performing in it.''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQr4y8ABsFg
Docomentary of lil kim about her personal life, music, succes and prison.