All hail Yo Majesty

Rap is a macho game where even women artists often play to male stereotypes, which makes Yo Majesty all the more daring: The Florida trio, billing itself as the only openly lesbian rap group, spits rhymes from a decidedly female perspective.

That alone is noteworthy, but it wouldn't matter much if Yo Majesty weren't good. But they are good. Really good.

The trio has yet to release a full-length album, but Yo Majesty performed tunes from "Yo EP" at a post-Pitchfork show Friday night at Sonotheque, a little club west of downtown Chicago. The beats were speedy and the rhymes were tight, usually bawdy and frequently hilarious. Shun B., Shunda K. and Jwl B. performed in front of a screen showing old kung-fu movies, which lent a surreal air to the fast-flying double entendres and droll wordplay.

Their shows are known for booty-shaking and occasional nudity, and though there was none of the latter Friday, there was plenty of the former. Yo Majesty took the stage around 1 a.m., and the three MCs paced back and forth as they traded verses. High points of the riotous half-hour set included a remix of Salt N Pepa's "Push It," with new lyrics supplied by Yo Majesty, the sex-obsessed "The Monkey" and "Club Action," which included orders to "get yo ass on the floor." There was no insubordination.