When it comes to women in hip hop from the 1980s, I’ve primarily listened to MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Roxanne Shante. When I discovered Nikki D, I couldn’t believe I wasn’t listening to her sooner. Nikki D is a rapper from Los Angeles, California who rhymed in the ’80s and ’90s. In 1989, she became the first woman signed to Def Jam. Later that year, she released her debut single, “Lettin’ Off Steam.” In 1991, she released her debut album, Daddy’s Little Girl. The album featured her hit single “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Hang On Kid, and “Lettin’ Off Steam.” The album is hard! Sadly, she never released another album; she eventually became a music executive.
Nikki D – “Lettin’ Off Steam” (Prod. By Sam Sever)
The Politicians – “Free Your Mind”