MC Lyte + Our Favorite Lady Moments From The 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards

Kendrick Lamar’s cypher may have stole the show last night, but the women at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards had something to say, too, and their influence did not take a backseat.

MUST READ: #OurMoments MC Lyte Redefines The Essence Of Women Through Hip-Hop

For starters, MC Lyte was the well-deserving recipient of the night’s biggest honor, the “I AM Hip Hop” award. The lyricist, who became the first female rapper to release a solo album in 1988, used her platform not to self glorify, but to school the current generation of hip hop. In a genre still dominated by men, her words were much-needed, and considering the overwhelming response on Twitter, the community at large stood in agreement.

MUST READ: Kendrick Lamar Leads Nominations For 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards, Snoop Dogg To Host

“Men, we are depending on you. We need you to protect us when no one else will. So stop cursing us out all the time. Find some love for us somewhere,” she said. “And ladies, I say if you want to be treated like a queen, act like one.”

Cheers to that!

Click through the slides to see our other favorite female-empowerment moments from the show, including Lil Kim and Rapsody holding it down for the ladies in separate cyphers.

Rhapsody Shows She’s A Force To Be Reckoned With!

It’s refreshing to see a female wordsmiths more focused on her craft than revealing every inch of her curvaceous body. No offense to Nicki Minaj, but talent triumphs cleavage, barely-there dresses and butt shots. Rhapsody was living proof of that during her cypher with Wax, Emis Killa, Rittz and new Aftermath artist Jon Connor. And during a previous interview with BET, she revealed that she didn’t take the opportunity lightly.

“I hope little goes can look at me like, ‘Oh, she’s killing it! She can rap just as good as the guys or even better.’ It’s definitely an honor to have that position and to inspire somebody,” the North caroline native said. “To Be the only female in my group, I definitely take it as an honor. I don’t take it lightly. I cam glad to represent women and to show that gender shouldn’t matter, all that matters is skill.”

Lil Kim Takes The Mic

With her prodigy Tiffany Foxx by her side, Queen Bee took center stage and made her rap comeback on last night’s cypher.

Kim gave fans a preview on what is to come on her upcoming mixtape Hard Core 2K13, set to drop on Oct. 31. The Brooklyn emcee proved she’s still got it by riding the beat and delivering tough bars.

In a previous interview with BET,  Tiffany Foxx said she leaned on Kim for support for her first cypher. “I found myself being nervous. At first I was cool. Then I was like hold on, wait a minute…I’m working with Kim,” she said.

Kim added, “She has the overall package. I look for everything. She’s gorgeous, she raps her ass off, she’s dope and she’s a hustler. I love to see her rap in person, as opposed to hearing her on records. She’s even more amazing when you hear her in person, you feel her.”

Eve, Queen Latifah, Missy Eliott & Jada Pinkett Show Homage To MC Lyte

It was officially ladies’ night when MC Lyte took the stage to receive the “I Am Hip-Hop Award,” and no one else was more excited for her than her fellow female rappers.

Followed by a video tribute with Queen Latifah, Missy Eliott and Jada Pinkett, rapper Eve handed the award to MC Lyte. “She set the precedent for female freestylers,” Eve said. “I’m truly, truly honored. She has meant so much to me in my career.”

Overall, the female emcees of the 2013 Hip-Hop awards left a powerful message: the game needs more unity, love and respect and the women are leading by example.

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