God Save the Queens

An NPR Best Book of the Year Can’t Stop Won’t Stop meets Girls to the Front in this essential and long overdue history of hip-hop’s female pioneers and its enduring stars. Every history of hip-hop previously published, from Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop to Shea Serrano’s The Rap Yearbook, focuses primarily on men, glaringly omitting a thorough and respectful examination of the presence and contribution of the genre’s female artists. For far too long, women in hip-hop have been relegated to the shadows, viewed as the designated “First Lady” thrown a contract, a pawn in some beef, or even worse. But as Kathy Iandoli makes clear, the reality is very different. Today, hip-hop is dominated by successful women such as Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, yet there are scores of female artists whose influence continues to resonate. God Save the Queens pays tribute to the women of hip-hop—from the early work of Roxanne Shante, to hitmakers like Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot, to the superstars of today. Exploring issues of gender, money, sexuality, violence, body image, feuds, objectification and more, God Save the Queens is an important and monumental work of music journalism that at last gives these influential female artists the respect they have long deserved. Through meticulous research and powerful new interviews, God Save the Queens rewrites the story of hip-hop. Female Pioneers: Go back to the Bronx in the ’70s and meet the founding mothers of hip-hop, from Cindy Campbell to the Mercedes Ladies, who were foundational to the culture. The Roxanne Wars: Unpack the explosive impact of Roxanne Shante’s “Roxanne’s Revenge” and the chain reaction of answer records that proved a woman's voice could dominate the airwaves. Social Commentary: Explore how artists from Salt-N-Pepa to Lauryn Hill tackled issues of sexuality, gender, and social justice, using their platform to speak truth to power. The Modern Queens: Examine the legacies of today’s superstars, from the rivalries and reigns of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B to the ongoing fight for respect in a multi-billion dollar industry.