10 Hip Hop Songs That Make Women Proud

Celebrate Women's History Month with this playlist.

10 Hip Hop Songs That Make Women Proud - Silencing women's voices is a crime that's been committed around the globe for centuries, and hip hop (though often made an example of for its abundance of misogynistic lyrics) has in many ways helped to empower and uplift those stories that need to be heard. In honor of Women's History Month, which officially kicked off Saturday (March 1), we brought back this playlist of songs that would make even your hip hop-hating grandmother smile with pride.(Photos from left: Epic Records, Interscope Records, MoTown Records)

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10 Hip Hop Songs That Make Women Proud - Silencing women's voices is a crime that's been committed around the globe for centuries, and hip hop (though often made an example of for its abundance of misogynistic lyrics) has in many ways helped to empower and uplift those stories that need to be heard. In honor of Women's History Month, which officially kicked off Saturday (March 1), we brought back this playlist of songs that would make even your hip hop-hating grandmother smile with pride.(Photos from left: Epic Records, Interscope Records, MoTown Records)

2Pac, "Dear Mama" - One of Pac’s signature musical triumphs, “Dear Mama,” an ode to his mother’s strength, love and determination during his youth, is one of the most touching rap songs ever written. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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2Pac, "Dear Mama" - One of Pac’s signature musical triumphs, “Dear Mama,” an ode to his mother’s strength, love and determination during his youth, is one of the most touching rap songs ever written. (Photo: Interscope Records)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - Propelled by the uplifting, Grammy-winning "U.N.I.T.Y.," Latifah's third album, Black Reign, was her most successful yet, earning the Queen her first gold plaque. (Photo: Motown Records)

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Queen Latifah, "U.N.I.T.Y." - In Queen Latifah’s classic "U.N.I.T.Y.," she strikes back at men who abuse women verbally and physically. In one case -- though violence is not advicated here -- the Queen gets hands-on with her defense: “I punched him dead in his eye and said, ‘Who you calling a b---h?’" (Photo: MoTown Records)

2Pac, "Keep Ya Head Up" - Tupac Shackur was the definition of a dichotomy when it came to his treatment of women in his songs. On one hand, he had playalistic songs like "I Get Around;" on the other, he had "Keep Ya Head Up," a powerful plea to respect the opposite sex. "Since we all came from a woman, got our name from a woman and our game from a woman/I wonder why we take from our women, why we rape our women, do we hate our women?" Pac spits in one of hip hop's most memorable lines.  (Photo: Interscope Records)

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2Pac, "Keep Ya Head Up" - Tupac Shackur was the definition of a dichotomy when it came to his treatment of women in his songs. On one hand, he had playalistic songs like "I Get Around;" on the other, he had "Keep Ya Head Up," a powerful plea to respect the opposite sex. "Since we all came from a woman, got our name from a woman and our game from a woman/I wonder why we take from our women, why we rape our women, do we hate our women?" Pac spits in one of hip hop's most memorable lines.  (Photo: Interscope Records)

Salt 'N Pepa, "None of Your Business" - As one of the most successful acts in a male-dominated genre, Salt 'N Pepa’s very existence makes women-lovers proud. But also, the songs they spit, like "None of Your Business," which declares that women have every right to be just as sexually empowered as men. "How many rules am I to break before you understand that your double standards don't mean s--t to me?" Pepa asks.(Photo: Next Plateau Records)

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Salt 'N Pepa, "None of Your Business" - As one of the most successful acts in a male-dominated genre, Salt 'N Pepa’s very existence makes women-lovers proud. But also, the songs they spit, like "None of Your Business," which declares that women have every right to be just as sexually empowered as men. "How many rules am I to break before you understand that your double standards don't mean s--t to me?" Pepa asks.(Photo: Next Plateau Records)

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Kanye West, "Hey Mama" - Kanye's "Dear Mama" was a touching tribute to the woman that raised him, released just a few years before her tragic death.(Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake /Landov)

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Kanye West, "Hey Mama" - Kanye's "Dear Mama" was a touching tribute to the woman that raised him, released just a few years before her tragic death.(Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake /Landov)

Eve, "Love Is Blind" featuring Faith Evans - Eve has a "ready clip" on this hit dedicated to a friend of hers who reportedly died after being beaten by an abusive husband. She picked up Faith Evans' angelic vocals for the assist.(Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images)

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Eve, "Love Is Blind" featuring Faith Evans - Eve has a "ready clip" on this hit dedicated to a friend of hers who reportedly died after being beaten by an abusive husband. She picked up Faith Evans' angelic vocals for the assist.(Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images)

"All That I Got Is You," Ghostface Killah feat. Mary J. Blige - Mary saved some magic for Meth's Shaolin brother, contributing a gorgeous hook and verse to this tear-jerker — perhaps the saddest hip hop song ever — from Ghost's 1996 solo debut, Ironman. (Photo: Razor Sharp/Epic Street/SME Records)

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Ghostface Killah, "All That I Got Is You" - This song from Ghost's 1996 debut, Iron Man, talks of his mother loving and caring for him and his siblings through destitution, health problems, and other tragedies. (Photo: Epic Records)

Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" - This classic doo-wop/hip hop blend from Lauryn Hill implored young women to respect themselves and their bodies.(Photo: RuffHouse Records)

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Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" - This classic doo-wop/hip hop blend from Lauryn Hill implored young women to respect themselves and their bodies.(Photo: RuffHouse Records)

The Evolution of Queen Latifah - A demo of Latifah's made its way to now legendary record exec Dante Ross, who signed her to Tommy Boy Records and released her acclaimed debut album, All Hail the Queen, led by her classic feminist anthem, "Ladies First." The Queen was on her way.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love, "Ladies First" - Perhaps the dopest feminist rap song of all time, Latifah's debut single was a powerful statement: "Who said the ladies couldn't make it, you must be blind/If you don't believe, well here, listen to this rhyme..." Latifah sets up, before launching into a multi-award-winning career that spans music, TV, and movies.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

Lil Kim, "Not Tonight" featuring. Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Left Eye and Angie Martinez - This song brought together the most successful female MCs of all time in a show of unity — and brought all of us to the dance floor in the process.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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Lil Kim, "Not Tonight" featuring. Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Left Eye and Angie Martinez - This song brought together the most successful female MCs of all time in a show of unity — and brought all of us to the dance floor in the process.(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)