Hip Hop Divas (Paperback)

~ Vibe Magazine (Author) "I remember getting jumped at the skating rink, by, like, eight girls..." (more)
Key Phrases: ofhip hop, hop divas, certified platinum, New York, Queen Latifah, Sugar Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As a single source on distaff purveyors of "thick, syrupy bass lines and Jeep-rocking hip hop beats," this set of Vibe magazine profiles is hard to beat. Written in streetwise and therefore YA-friendly language, it covers such stars as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Lil' Kim and caps the performer profiles with a "Hip-Hop Herstory" and two think pieces on women, hip-hop, and women and hip-hop. This is all positive stuff by writers who are mostly down with their subjects, and those who see these young women and their music as sorry signs of the times probably won't care for it. Still, the book provides insightful backgrounding on some of the most vital pop-music voices around. Take Yo Yo. Important enough from working with Ice Cube, she is celebrated here for involvement with the "famous IBWC, or Intelligent Black Women's Coalition" and the strong feminist message of lyrics like "No, Yo Yo's not a 'ho' or a whore / and if that's what you're here for / exit through the door." Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

It’s time to stand up, take notice, and give props to the women who have made their mark on hip hop culture. Although superstars like Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and TLC are some of the most popular entertainers in the world today—each having sold some 20 million albums apiece—the dramatic rise of women to the top of the hip hop industry has never been chronicled before. The revolution was decades in the making, with the female pioneers fighting for a place in the hip hop boy’s club, confronting sexist attitudes, and grabbing their piece of the commercial pie while taking hip hop to new creative heights. Now VIBE, the preeminent hip hop magazine, celebrates this pop culture explosion with a book of thoughtful essays, stunning photographs, and informative timelines and sidebars.

Some of the best writers on hip hop profile the grassroots efforts of hip hop’s first ladies to the hottest stars of the moment. Emil Wilbekin, editor in chief of VIBE, Mimi Valdés, Danyel Smith, dream hampton, Greg Tate, Sacha Jenkins, Harry Allen, Selwyn Hinds, Cristina Verán, and many others come together to reveal how these women continue to play a powerful and integral role in the hip hop world.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (October 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609808362
• ISBN-13: 978-0609808368
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,008,046 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talks about the new trendsetters in Hip-Hop, May 8, 2002

By	rodog63jr (bronx, N.Y.C. N.Y. USA) - See all my reviews

This book show how women were always part of Hip-Hop. It tells how they had to struggle against sexism, disrepect from their male peers and other obstacles. Mary J. Blige is the First Lady of Hip-Hop as shown by the cover of the book. This simply means that she is the preeminent woman in hip-hop. The other bio that the reader will find interesting are those of TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Eve, Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, and Trina. The other bios that will interest the reader are the info on The Mercedes Ladies, Sha Rock, The Funky Sequence, The Real Roxanne, and Roxanne Shante. The book lacks vital info on Lisa Velez of Lisa-Lisa and Cult Jam , and Faith Evans. Overall this is a quality book. The title of my review is just stating my opinion that many of the artists in this book such as Mary and Lil' Kim will overshadow the men in the next 10 years.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars about time!, November 25, 2001

By	cindy hall "cuest" (detroit, michigan) - See all my reviews

Finally someone decided to chronicle the important strides women have made in hip hop! This is so beautiful, the kind of book I will save for my daughter. It's just cool to see everything put into perspective. The writers did a great job. I am a huge TLC fan and the chapter here is the best I've ever read on the women. I love the Roxanne Shante chapter too. She's the original hip hop diva and finally I learned about her after all these years. Thank you Vibe for making this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Women in Hip Hop, August 2, 2005

By	Victoria Hart Glavin "Victoria Hart Glavin" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Women in hip hop get their due. This book covers a lot, but focuses on a chosen few. It is the only book of its kind that I am aware of. For anyone interested in getting a broad overview of mainstream (for the most part)women in hip hop I suggest purchasing this book. A must for any hip hop head because we all know that "The ladies run this mutha!"