Kid Sister & Estelle Pay Homage to Hip-Hop's First Ladies
Kid Sister has teamed up with Estelle for a 2008 remake of Queen Latifah and Monie Love’s 1989 classic “Ladies First.”
“‘Ladies First’ was a Queen Latifah song, so ours is ‘First Ladies.’ We made an updated, cool new beat to it that has an old school [vibe]. Curt [Cameruci] from Flosstradamus made the beat,” said the rapper, born Melisa Young, on set of her Rap-Up photo shoot in Brooklyn.
It turns out the Windy City MC is a big fan of the British singer. “That girl can blow! She’s just so talented and I didn’t know she raps, so she rapped on the song. She’s a little pit bull!”
The updated ladies anthem will appear on the 28-year-old’s debut album Dream Date. “We just wanted to pay homage to the ladies who came first without being too cheesy. You can’t cross the line into the land of cheese. I think we steered clear of that. It’s one of my favorite tracks.”
On and off wax, Kid Sister gave props to the women in hip-hop who came before her, pioneers like Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and MC Lyte. “‘Ruffneck’ was my song! I used to record that off the radio.” She even shouted out more recent female MCs like Lil’ Kim. “Hardcore is a good-ass album. I know it’s old, but Lil’ Kim just really skilled in that category.”
Dream Date will be released on January 27, 2009. View the official tracklisting.