Each week, the spotlight will be on...

Each week, the spotlight will be on musicians who are making a commercial breakthrough.

CHRIS LEE

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Remy Ma

“There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story”

SRC/Universal

Artist info: With Lil’ Kim in prison and Foxy Brown suffering from irreparable hearing damage, the ranks of female rappers have been severely diminished. Enter the Bronx’s Remy Ma (real name: Remy Ness), underground mix-tape veteran, protege of the late rapper Big Pun and “first lady” of the Terror Squad hip-hop clique.

She’s performed guest spots on songs for Eminem, Lil’ Jon, R. Kelly and others. And en route to “Something,” her solo debut, the 23-year-old collected trophies at the Vibe Awards, the Source Awards and earned the “Best Female Hip-Hop” honor at 2005’s BET Awards.

Back story: After impressing Puerto Rican rap dynamo Big Pun with her freestyle skills in 1999, she teamed with Fat Joe, Pun’s frequent collaborator and fellow Bronx native. Ness notably contributed smooth, witty vocals to the MC’s 2004 club anthem “Lean Back.” Although he signed her to his Universal Music-distributed SRC imprint, the rappers have frequently butted heads, and she has been critical of his support for her oft-delayed album.

Influences: Queen Latifah, Method Man, the Lox.

Trivia: The self-proclaimed “Queen of New York’s” MC moniker is actually a hip-hopization of Remy Martin, the French cognac.