Monie Love

Set loose on a saturated market, female rappers must overcome overproduction--like the indie rockers before them, they're competing for a store of compelling musical ideas that's clearly diminishing even though its limits will never be determined. But rhymewise--contentwise--they're just getting started. Connected to the street and her family's front steps, Monie's shtick is proud rather than hostile, as in "R U Single," where she sees through a casanova's bullsh*t to what's "cute and smart" about him. She radiates sisterhood even though she concentrates on the guys, and positivity and tradition even though her only political/cultural move is "Swiney Swiney," the most disgusting antimeat song you ever heard. And she finds way more than her statistical share of beats. Cute and smart--also tough. (Grade: A-)