Lady B facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady B |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wendy Clark |
| Also known as | Bahiyyah Clark |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Radio DJ |
Lady B, whose real name is Wendy Clark, is an American radio DJ and rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is known as one of the very first female rappers in hip hop music. In 1979, she made history by being the first female hip hop artist to record a single song, called "To the Beat, Y'all".
Because of her important role and long-lasting impact, many people call her the "Godmother of Hip Hop". Lady B was also one of the first DJs to play rap songs on the radio outside of New York. She helped introduce famous artists like Will Smith, Run-DMC, Queen Latifah, and LL Cool J when they were just starting out.
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Lady B's Early Life and Music
Wendy Clark grew up in Wynnefield, Philadelphia. She went to Overbrook High School with actor Will Smith. When she was a teenager, she started using her Islamic name, Bahiyyah.
One day, while visiting New York City, Clark heard rap music for the first time. She was with basketball star World B. Free. They started freestyling, which means making up rhymes on the spot. Back in Philadelphia, a local radio person heard her rapping. This led to her recording her first song, "To the Beat Y'all".
"To the Beat Y'all"
Lady B's song, "To the Beat Y'all," was first released in 1979. It was put out by a local record company in Philadelphia called TEC. The song was so popular that it was re-released in 1980. This time, it came out on Sugar Hill Records, a famous rap label. The phrase "To the Beat Y'all" even became a common saying in rap music.
Lady B's Radio Career
Lady B started her radio career in 1979 at station WHAT. Later that year, she got her own weekend show on WRNB 100.3. This show became a big success and brought hip-hop music to the radio in Philadelphia.
In 1984, Lady B moved to Power 99 FM in Philadelphia. There, she started a program called The Street Beat. This show was incredibly popular and made the radio station's ratings go way up. She hosted The Street Beat until 1989.
After that, she worked for Sirius Satellite Radio in New York City. She also returned to WRNB 100.3 in Philadelphia. Since February 2019, Lady B has been on the air at Classix 107.9. She continues to work there today.
Awards and Recognitions
Lady B has received many awards for her work in music and radio. In 2002, she got the "Philly Urban Legend Award." This award honors people who were pioneers in Philadelphia's rap music scene. She also received the World Renowned Entertainment, Role Model of Excellence Award.
Lady B has also been given two Lifetime Achievement Awards. One of these was the Douglass ”Jocko” Henderson award. The magazine Vibe even listed her in its "History of Hip-Hop." They called her "maybe the most influential female in hip-hop radio history."
On August 13, 2022, the city of Philadelphia honored Lady B in a special way. They renamed the 5700 block of Wyndale Avenue to “Lady B Way.” This was done to recognize all of her amazing accomplishments.
