It's bigger than Hip Hop Hip Hop Hip Hop

And, in case you're wondering why I repeat myself, I am quoting Dead Prez. Revolutionary but gansta, vegan, potheads. What else could you want in an iPod download? For real.

Yesterday, hip hop finally got some respect. The Smithsonian--essentially THE American history museum--opened up a section detialing the history of hip hop. The director of the museum said, "'American music is the soundtrack to American history," Mr. Glass said. "Hip-hop has been a part of American music for more than 30 years.'"

So all this is good, but suspiciously missing from the press conference and lacking in referece are women in hip hop. It's no secret that hip hop has been a mostly male dominated culture, but women have certainly played a huge, if unrecognized, role. Where would eighth grades dances have been without a little Salt n Pepa? Or Queen Latifah? Where would college have been withouth Eryka Badu or Jill Scott? Or Jean Grae? Granted, hip hop has a long history of completely objectifying and degrating women, but that has mostly been by men looking to make a buck by selling shitty rhymes and bland beats.

Basically, men still get all the credit. In 2006.