In the early 1980s, hip-hop was more than music, it was a lifestyle taking shape in the streets, clubs, and living rooms of America. The fashion was fresh, the beats were raw, and the culture was still defining itself. Among the pioneers who helped build that foundation was the legendary emcee Sweet Tee. Known for her razor-sharp rhymes and undeniable stage presence, she also left her mark in another way: through hairstyles that defined an era.
The Style of a Movement
Hip-hop has always been about self-expression, and for women, especially, hair was a canvas of identity. Long before social media trends or celebrity hair brands, Sweet Tee became a walking billboard for style innovation. Her look was never an afterthought; it was an extension of her artistry.
Micro Braids Before the Mainstream
Long before braids became a pop-culture staple, Sweet Tee was rocking micro braids with the baby hair. In the early ’80s, these tiny, intricate braids were seen in communities but rarely broadcast to the masses. She really made the style her own by clipping the front of the braids up with stylish clips or just a hair tie. The micro braids framed her face while giving her an edgy yet feminine flair, something young women across the country quickly began imitating (Sweet Tee braids). More than just a hairstyle, it was a cultural statement: proud, bold, and undeniably Black. Sweet Tee’s braids told a story of heritage while making her one of the most stylish women in rap.
Enter the Doobie: A Queen is Crowned
But the hairstyle that sealed her legacy was the doobie. For those in the know, the doobie is a hair wrap that preserves a fresh press, leaving hair silky and bouncy once taken down. In New York you had to go to Harlem to the Dominican salon to get this style. Sweet Tee brought this style to the big screen. Sweet Tee was the original hip-hop artist wearing the Doobie. Sweet Tee mentioned in an interview that women would ask her to see her scalp because her hair didn’t look real.” Females across the hip-hop scene began embracing the doobie wrap not just as a practical look but as a badge of identity. Sweet Tee made it glamorous, proving that hip-hop fashion could be equal parts fierce and feminine.
Lasting Legacy
Decades later, the influence of Sweet Tee’s hairstyles is still felt. Micro braids were embraced by stars like Brandy and Janet Jackson in the 1990s, and the style continues to be a staple in Black hair culture. Every time an artist embraces their natural or styled crown on stage, they echo the legacy of women like Sweet Tee, who weren’t afraid to bring their full selves, lyrics, looks, and leadership to the forefront. Sweet Tee wasn’t just spitting bars; she was rewriting the rules of how a woman in hip-hop could look. The braids were bold, the doobie was royal, and the crown still fits: Sweet Tee will forever hold a place with her hairstyles in Hip-Hop.
