The Congresswoman and MTS recently hooked up online, and Waters seemed to surprise the rapper when she was asked what music encourages her ...

During the online chat, for Harper's Bazaar, Maxine also said Cardi and Meg should be commended, not criticized, for spearheading a feminist movement in hip-hop.

After all, Waters says that's what the men who were "in charge" in this music genre -- like Tupac and Dr.