Boss, Def Jam’s first female rapper and ‘Born Gangstaz’ musician, dies at 54

Rapper Boss, whose real name is Lichelle Laws, has died. Lichelle Laws, the musician who became Def Jam’s first female rapper under the moniker Boss, has died. News of Laws’ death spread after fellow rapper Bun B mourned the “Deeper” and “I Don’t Give a F—” artist on Instagram. That’s why I’m as bad as any of these male gangsta rappers.” Still, Laws said that she had difficulty convincing male-run record companies that there was an audience for hard-core female rap such as hers. Though a relative newbie in the ’90s, Laws had big plans for her music career and beyond: “One of my goals is to have my own company.” She added: “There are so many hard-core female rappers out there that need a chance, and I’d be in a position to give it to them.” In addition to lending her talent to artists including rapper AMG, West Coast rap group South Central, Krayzie Bone and LaReece, Boss’ music appeared in a handful of movie and television projects, including Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and Showtime’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” Laws was born Sept. 12, 1969, and had a “very proper upbringing,” which included ballet classes in her youth and an education at Oakland Community College near Detroit.