Lakeyah Honored Women Music Icons for International Women's Day
The Milwaukee rapper showed love to legends like Lauryn Hill while also praising upstarts like YKNiece.
Lakeyah performs during halftime at the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 23, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Paras Griffin
Lakeyah paid homage to women who have inspired her, in honor of International Women’s Day. The Milwaukee rapper posted the tribute on Sunday, Mar. 8, and while speaking with Apple Music, she spoke about wanting to celebrate the influence of women.
“Today we’re celebrating so many things,” she began. “But honestly–the biggest thing is women in history, women in music, women in my life. Just, women in power, if I’m being real. We need to take a minute to honor these women in hip-hop–because I’m a woman in hip-hop and who dominated their lane.”
She went to name some of the female artists who have a profound impact on her as an artist.
“I could go all the way back to Lauryn Hill,” she shared. “Y’all know I love to do my R&B stuff. I got Aaliyah: y’all know she inspired my fashion so much. That synergy of that dominance and that femininity. I feel like she mastered that well.”
She went on to name figures like Teyana Taylor, Tink, Kash Doll, Dreezy, YKNiece and GloRilla.
“I feel like women in rap right now are just doing it really differently,” she explained. “They’re living in their truth. And I think that has a lot to do with the woman knowing she’s her. I think all the girls right now are ‘Herskiii.’”
Lakeyah took a little time to herself before storming back into the spotlight with her latest single, “Herskiii.” The track was released at the beginning of March and it also announces something of a new beginning — it’s kicking off Lakeyah’s run as an independent artist.
You can watch Lakeyah’s tribute below.
