My girls be shopping hard... in the club buying bars-

Trina, B R Right

While there are women who work in virtually every aspect of the music business, I would like to focus primarily on Hip Hop Models and Female Rappers in this article. Hip Hop Models are female models who play parts in videos and pose for calendars, magazines and other entertainment sources. They are sometimes referred to as Video Vixens, Hip Hop Honeys and dymes.   Most Hip Hop Honeys use music video roles as a stepping stone to bigger and better business opportunities. Video Vixens like Vida Guerra (Shake ya Tail feather, Obsession), Melyssa Ford (Big Pimpin, Knock Yourself Out) have crossed over appearing in several movies, TV shows, and magazines proving that there is life after music videos. Even Video Vixen Gloria Velez (Holla Holla, We Taking Over) has decided to pursue a career as a rapper and says that she will not appear in any more videos unless she’s rapping in it.

Laughing all the way to the bank

While some people may say that being a Hip Hop Video Model is degrading to women, they cannot deny that is it a very lucrative business and a great way for a female to get her start in the music business. With numerous websites and magazines (King. Smooth, Black Men) devoted to this industry, Hip Hop Honeys now have an abundance of places to showcase their assets (no pun intended). Websites such as UrbanStreetz.com and IndustryModels.com give these women some major exposure and hiphophoneys.com claims to have sold 400,000 videos worldwide. Video Vixens are not only making money from videos but from posters, calendars and even books. Yeah that’s right, Books!

Karrine “Supahead” Steffans released her debut book “Confessions of a Video Vixen in 2005 and created enough controversy to make her a millionaire. In the book she gives an in depth look at the Hip Hop Modeling Industry and spills the beans about her former relationships with several well known celebrities, some of whom were married at the time. While she has generated a lot of animosity toward herself, she has also generated lots and lots of money with her 6 figure book deals, acting roles (A Man Apart) and numerous appearances on television and radio. Criticize if you must, but this young entrepreneur is laughing all the way to the bank and will most likely continue to do so for years to come.

Are you The Next Lil Kim or Beyonce?

While modeling is a great steppingstone to bigger and better things, you don’t have to start off as a Video Vixen to make money as a female in this industry. With the rise of the internet and satellite radio there are now more ways for aspiring artists to get their music heard than ever before. So how do you get started? Well, first you must decide that music is really what you would love to do as a career because it will take a lot of hard work and desire to make it in this cut throat business. Then, of course, you must make the music. “But I don’t have the money or connections to do so. Now you do! With sites like OnFireBeats.com offering professional production, songwriting and free business advice for the up and coming artist on a budget, there is no reason for anybody to not pursue their dreams of making music. Females like Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and Missy Elliot have all sold millions of records and solidified their status as dominating forces in hip-hop music, outselling most of their male counterparts on several occasions. One of the biggest stars in the world right now, Beyonce, has sold millions of records, appeared in films and won enough awards to fill a whole trophy case. Independent women are no joke! Take advantage of your skills ladies. There is no better time than now!

While this article is meant to be informative is should also motivate any female who is considering a career in entertainment. Modeling, Singing, Songwriting, Rapping and acting are all possibilities and should not be ruled out as a future means of making money for any female that has a desire to do so. And all you men out there better watch out because, in a male dominated industry, women are gaining on us day by day and it wont be long before we think of women instead of men when asked about successful people in Hip Hop. Maybe we’ll even think about you!