Before she was a community activist and nonprofit founder, Shiaka McIntosh’s first love was hiphop. When she was a child, she performed hip-hop around the city in places such as the Strand Theatre, Roxbury Community College, the John Hancock Building and others.

During that time, McIntosh realized that men in the hip-hop space were always talked about and recognized for their contributions to the genre, but women in the space were not.

This bothered her throughout the years, so much so that she is preparing to host the first hip-hop awards ceremony in the city that exclusively honors women who contributed to the genre.

“Everyone forgets about the females, and a lot of times the women are the ones behind the scenes, such as Chrissy Buscato. … She resided in New Hampshire, but she was the first female I’ve ever seen help our men get venues that they normally would never get,” she said.

“[Buscato was] a woman who was telling them how to sell their own tickets, and instead of just being the artist, learn to throw events and make your own money.” Called the Women in Hip-Hop Award Ceremony, the event will be held Sept. 20 at Sorrell and Lime on 986 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester.

Artists like Pretty Poison, DJ T Lawson, Free from 106 & Park and others will be recognized at the awards. The event will not just feature artists, but also DJs, radio/podcast hosts and businesswomen who have promoted hiphop throughout their careers, like Danielle “Dani” Johnson, founder and CEO of Spark Radio.

Being around for a long time in the hip-hop scene, McIntosh shared more about how monumental it is to host this award ceremony.

“This is the first ever. No one in New England has ever done a hip-hop award for females ever in New England. Ever,” she said.

“So, I have to break the mold.

…This is just one night where I want them to be themselves, and the younger [women] artists coming up, I want to encourage them to keep pushing, keep going, don’t stop. I want the older ones around my era and older, to know I see you. …We wanna give you your flowers.”

McIntosh said it is important to have the Women in Hip- Hop award ceremony in the community.

“When I was growing up, no matter how good I was, it was always like I had to punch through. …I feel like this brings forth unity, and it shows that you can have your own lane. We don’t have to be beefing. We don’t have to be out here fighting each other,” she said.

“We want to show unity. That’s the number one reason that I am doing this show for unity in progress. It’s to show other women that you don’t have to fight someone for a spot. You can have your own lane, create your own spot. It’s very important that young girls see that.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at eventbrite.com/e/woman-inhiphop-honors-tickets-1993978776196