50 Years of Hip Hop: With Respect to 107 Leading Ladies of Lyrics
About this audiobook
Over the last 50 years, hip hop has evolved from an underground subculture to a global mass media phenomenon that is today considered one of the most dominant music genres. While the origins of hip hop are commonly associated with iconic male pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and the like, female rappers have been trailblazing right alongside them since the beginning. From the first all-female rap groups like The Sequence breaking new ground in the 1970s to today’s chart-topping, genre-bending superstars like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, women have proved themselves to be a formidable force of lyricism and flow within hip hop for the last five decades.
In Leading Ladies of Lyrics: Female Rappers Over 50 Years of Hip Hop, we will embark on a chronological journey through hip hop’s history from the eyes of the commanding women who have shaped it. We’ll discover how these pioneering queens of rhyme fought for representation in a male-dominated field, overcame limitations to prove their skill and versatility on the mic, and evolved into raw, authentic voices of power for generations of listeners. From Roxanne Shanté’s battle rhymes to Queen Latifah’s socially conscious messages to Nicki Minaj’s pop culture dominance, Leading Ladies of Lyrics puts a spotlight on the legendary achievements of rap’s greatest female MCs who changed the game and brought a dynamic woman’s voice to the leading edge of lyricism.
About the author
Hip hop called to me from an early age. The beats, rhymes and messages spoke to my soul during difficult times growing up in San Francisco. Discovering artists like Tupac, Nas and A Tribe Called Quest made me want to carve out my own lane. So I began journaling lyrics and poems as creative outlets.
Writing about consciousness, community and empowerment lit a spark in me. Soon I was crafting albums and books like "Word is Bond: 50 Years of Hip Hop, God and Spirituality" and "50 Years of Hip Hop" about practicing the spiritual principles of Hip Hop" to explore hip hop's foundations. I try to inspire and uplift others by blending knowledge and art.
When I'm not composing new music or prose, you can find me speaking publicly. I engage crowds with my personal stories of evolution in hopes it motivates them too. . Through all my works, my mission is to guide hip hop culture toward greater self-awareness and purpose. There are always new souls to reach with these healing lyrics.
