SELLING SEX?

Channel 4's Hip Hop Nights strand continues. It's hard to imagine a more male-dominated and macho genre than hip hop. Yet women have consistently broken through as stars of the genre. But on whose terms? Women may have often been used as little more than props in videos and habitually insulted with sexist lyrics. Despite this, women have been making a decisive impact on hip hop since the mid-1980s: a movement spearheaded by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott. But successful female rappers have been the exception that proved the rule. How have female artists breached the genre's infamous "testosterone barrier"? Have they claimed a new power base within hip hop? And is the new generation of female artists unashamedly exploiting their sexuality the ultimate show of feminist strength? Or a deluded continuation of the exploitation game? With contributions from Cheryl "Salt" James and Spinderella from Salt-N-Pepa, Ice-T, 90s rappers Yo Yo and MC Lyte, and up-and-coming rap star Jackie-O, the self-appointed "most banned woman in hip hop". Continues tomorrow.