Ego Trip Announces "Ms. Rap Supreme" VH1 Show; MC Serch To Host
Last year, the irreverent hit series known as ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show met head-on the trials and tribulations that Caucasian rappers (a minority in African-American-created hip-hop culture) go through on a daily basis. This time around, this exciting and ever-expanding series explores the intriguing plight of yet another disenfranchised group in the rap game-the female MC.
Female rappers have always had it tough in the male-dominated world of hip-hop. Striving to be heard and respected, hard-working '80s pioneers like Pebbly-Poo, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante and Queen Latifah made it possible for future generations of lady lyricists to be seen and heard.
However, even with the late '90/early '00s success of today's household names like Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Da Brat, Eve and Lauryn Hill, the female rap game is in jeopardy… and even Alex Trebek knows it. 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 and Foxy Brown have both gotten locked up and Remy Ma has become the first female rapper ever to be accused of shooting somebody.
So what's going on with female rap's future and who will be the next great lady emcee?
These questions will be answered in the new VH1 series "ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme". This 8-episode reality talent show has all the estrogen-heavy ingredients (namely womanly competitiveness, catty behavior and female ingenuity) to make an explosive splash…. No, make that a tidal wave… of viewing pleasure.
Hosted by Michael "MC Serch" Berrin (of the group 3rd Bass, the Def Jam trio responsible for many crowd-pleasing rap hits, including "Pop Goes The Weasel"), and produced with Ken Mok and his 10x10 production team (the folks behind the super-hits America's Next Top Model and Pussycat Dolls), "ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme" will go where no man has gone before ... to find hip hop's next great female rapper.
Set in the glitzy shine of sunny Los Angeles, California, 10 contestants hailing from all over America will 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?
Along the way, female hip-hop icons will be brought in to critique our eager rappin' competitors. The winner receives $100,000 and a whole nation of devoted fans of all genders.
It won't be easy though. 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 10 contestants-ranging from the cold-blooded, fashion-addicted sexpot to the pro-female conscious rapper to the unruly thugette from the streets-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.
Who will step up (and avoid "steppin' off" in the process) and be crowned the new queen of female rap?
"ego trip's Miss Rap Supreme" on VH1.
Go 'head and start the gossipin'. It's that good, ma. (Press Release)
