Heds & Dreds: A Brief History of Jamaican Women Talking Smack on Rap Records

Words by Jesse Serwer—

Remember when having a Jamaican chick talking trash in thick patois was a thing in hip-hop? Dr. Dre kind of set it off on the intro to his classic “Let Me Ride” from The Chronic. Two years later, Biggie (and producer Poke of Trackmasters) had a young Diana King adlibbing something fierce at the beginning of “Respect,” from Ready to Die.

Well, this trend seems to be coming back. Jamaicaphile Pusha T had a bad gyal narrator all over his recent Wrath of Caine mixtape, in what appeared to be an homage of sorts to “Let Me Ride.” Busta and Pharrell start their brand-new new single “Twerk It” with a gyal indulging in a little soundbwoy killing: We come fi flatline everything inna dis bumboclaat til clash done! In the tradition of “Let Me Ride,” both females are uncredited, leaving their identities a mystery.

Now, we have another addition to this micro-trend, this time featuring a well-known commodity, to Jamaicans at least. Boisterous radio/TV personality and “fluffy diva” Miss Kitty (that’s her above) makes a memorable turn on “E.V.E.” the new hip-hop x dubstep single from Eve, “representing fi all the goodas gal dem from JA to LA.” The Philly rapper (or, more accurately, rapper-turned-actress-turned-billionaire’s-arm-candy-turned-rapper-again) has long been a reggae fan, and spent time in Jamaica earlier this year, even recording a track with Lady Saw and Truckback Records, so it’s not a total surprise to hear something like this from her. Watch the (Miss Kitty-less) video below, and tell us your favorite rude gyal hip-hop cameo.