Last year, the irreverent hit series, ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show, met head-on the plight of the Caucasian rapper. This time around, ego trip and VH1 expand the series to explore the struggles of yet another disenfranchised group in the rap game—the female MC. Despite the late ‘90/early ‘00s success of today’s household names like Lil’ Kim, Da Brat and Eve, the female rap game is in jeopardy. In 2004, the Recording Academy nixed the best female rap artist category due to a shortage of eligible entries. The image of the female rap genre has taken further lumps in recent times as the once-reigning Lauryn Hill has inexplicably watched her career nosedive, BK bad girls Lil’ Kim, Remy Ma and Foxy Brown have all seen their careers sideswiped by the penal system.
So what’s going on with female rap’s future and who will be the next great lady emcee?
Premiering Monday April 14 at 10:00 p.m., ego trip’s Miss Rap Supreme answers these questions by giving 10 contestants a shot at winning $100,000 and the title of Miss Rap Supreme. These budding female MCs have to find a way to make it through challenges that will test their sex appeal, stage presence and, of course, their mental toughness and creativity. Who will impress the streets with her quick-witted rhymes and braggadocious swagger? Who will get her weave knocked off for talking too much smack (and get a smack in return)? Who will rise above the female funk and flow in the midst of adversity to show the world she’s a classy lady… with killer skills?
Michael “MC Serch ” Berrin returns as host of the 8-episode series joined by female rap luminary Yolanda “Yo – Yo ” Whitaker. Along the way, the ladies will be guided through the rough waters of the rap game by a host of hip hop heavy hitters. Even with all the help in the world it won’t be easy. Shacked up in the too-close-for-comfort confines of The ‘Fembassy’ (a funky and occasionally surreal hotel designed in homage to the great figures of Female Rap) our contestants will be faced with a variety of tasks that will reflect the stone cold truth: Boy, it’s hard to be a female rapper, girl.Ken Mok is executive producer and Paul Buscemi is co-executive producer for 10X10 Productions. Gabriel Alvarez, Sacha Jenkins, Chairman Jefferson Mao , Brent Rollins and Elliott Wilson are executive producers for ego trip. Jim Ackerman and Christian McLaughlin are executive producers for VH1. * All times ET/PT
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