First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game

by Nadirah Simmons

This enlightening book reframes the history of hip-hop—and this time, women are given credit for all their trailblazing achievements that have left an undeniable impact on music.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, hip-hop is not just the music, and women have played a big role in shaping the way it looks today. FIRST THINGS FIRST takes readers on a journey through some notable firsts by women in hip-hop history and their importance. Factual firsts like Queen Latifah becoming the first rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lauryn Hill making history as the first rapper to win the coveted Album of the Year Award at the GRAMMYs, April Walker being the first woman to dominate in the hip-hop fashion game, and Da Brat being the first solo woman rapper to have an album go platinum, and metaphorical firsts like Missy Elliott being the first woman rapper to go to the future. (Trust me, she really did.)

There are chapters on music legends like Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, tv and radio hosts like Big Lez and Angie Martinez, and so many more ladies I would name but I don’t want to spoil the book! There are games, charts and some fire images, too.

Altogether, FIRST THINGS FIRST is a celebration of the achievements of women in hip-hop who broke down barriers and broke the mold. So the next time someone doesn’t have their facts straight on the ladies in hip-hop, you can hit them with “first things first”…

Altogether, FIRST THINGS FIRST is a celebration of the achievements of women in hip-hop who broke down barriers and broke the mold. So the next time someone doesn’t have their facts straight on the ladies in hip-hop, you can hit them with “first things first”…

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Hip Hop, Audiobook, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30, 2024

Reviews

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the content, but I think it would have worked better as a podcast rather than a book?
It's a bit disjointed the way it hops around in stories and timelines.
I enjoyed how the author used her own personal history with hiphop to guide the information, but it also made it a bit trickier to follow.
There is a lot of tidbits on some of my favourite women in hiphop found in here, I just wish it had been presented in a different format.
Thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for my ALC.

[Sierra| HooksxBooks]

I loved this a lot.

This book had a lot of nostalgia and it brought the facts!! I love how this book was broken down into different categories and gave the rap girls their flowers.

You can tell that the Author, Nadirah Simmons, really put their true heart and energy into this book. The attention to detail, the research. It brought back memories of seeing the late 90's and 2000's again. This is definitely one of those books that you would want to keep on your coffee table as a conversation piece. Relieving the moment Nicki Minaj's feature on "Monster" came out and her EP, "Beam me up scotty" so many beautiful moments in this book, so many past and present. Lil' Kim being listed in the fashion section, giving us a taste of her 90's fashions that STILL influence the girls in 2024.

GET THE BOOK!! READ IT!!


I volunteered to read a copy of this book through NetGalley.

[Kiara Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just ok. It’s kind of all over the place. It reads like a transcript of a podcast. Each “track” (chapter) would probably do well as a podcast episode or YouTube video. The information is interesting. The format is nice but it just isn’t cohesive enough to make it that good of a read.

[Haerlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description
This enlightening book reframes the history of hip-hop—and this time, women are given credit for all their trailblazing achievements that have left an undeniable impact on music.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, hip-hop is not just the music, and women have played a big role in shaping the way it looks today. FIRST THINGS FIRST takes readers on a journey through some notable firsts by women in hip-hop history and their importance. Factual firsts like Queen Latifah becoming the first rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lauryn Hill making history as the first rapper to win the coveted Album of the Year Award at the GRAMMYs, April Walker being the first woman to dominate in the hip-hop fashion game, and Da Brat being the first solo woman rapper to have an album go platinum, and metaphorical firsts like Missy Elliott being the first woman rapper to go to the future. (Trust me, she really did.)

There are chapters on music legends like Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, tv and radio hosts like Big Lez and Angie Martinez, and so many more ladies I would name but I don’t want to spoil the book! There are games, charts and some fire images, too.

Altogether, FIRST THINGS FIRST is a celebration of the achievements of women in hip-hop who broke down barriers and broke the mold. So the next time someone doesn’t have their facts straight on the ladies in hip-hop, you can hit them with “first things first”…

My Take:
I have only viewed an extended preview from Netgalley-sans illustrations. That said, what I did read has inspired me to add this to my collection; I used some of the artists they highlighted to a playlist about avant garde Black femme and nonbinary people in rap. If you are interested in hip hop history and women in hip hop, this book is for you.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book as I grew up loving female hip hop artists. Reading the book was nostalgic as it took me back to the days of waiting for the hip hop magazine issues to drop such as Honey. I looked forward to seeing the hairstyles, outfits etc. The book was entertaining and spoke about artists such as Lil Kim,Da Brat, Nikki Minaj, and Missy Elliot success in the industry.
This book would be better read in physical form though in my opinion. The ebook was a bit choppy and the pictures didn’t line up as well.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to all hip hop lovers.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game by Nadirah Simmons in 3 days and have no regrets!
This book is about the powerful women of hip-hop, what they were like before they had power, how they rose to power, and what they did with the power.
Hip-hop has many layers that most people barely realize. In hip-hop you can be famous because of your beginnings, being on TV, your fashion, your awards, and of course your Music!
Many of these people that I read about are very different from me and I loved hearing about their unique perspectives and experiences. It provided me with information of another facet of women's struggle for recognition and fairness, but also of their successes and victories!
It challenged me with more complex ideas because the music industry is huge and I didn’t fully understand it, and this book explained it along the way. I still don’t understand all of it but my knowledge about it has grown in leaps and bounds.
This book was in my challenge zone because it is targeted to a much older audience,But I had an amazing time reading it and I'm very happy that I did.
My grandparents bought it for me so I thought it would be at if not under my age group but it wasn't it was at if not over. I would recommend this book for anyone 16 and over, I have an advanced reading level for my age so I was fine, but others might not be.
I noticed that a lot of the other reviews said it should be a podcast rather than a book, and I partially agree with them. I believe that it would make a great podcast but I also know that podcasts aren't everybody's thing. For instance I do not like podcasts but I love books so this book was perfect for me because I could get all the information and energy that podcasts have written down on paper where I could understand it easier.
I love how Nadirah Simmons wrote the book! It's absolutely amazing and I have so many things I need to research and do now, I now need to watch Wild Style, I need to watch rap battles, and I now need to research everything about April Walker. From the tidbits that Nadirah Simmons gives in the books you immediately want to know more about everything! She gives you just enough information so that you know enough to want to keep researching, which I think is amazing. I think that the best writers can do that. I believe that the best writers are the ones whose influence goes beyond just their books, the ones who make people want to keep learning about a topic after you're done reading the book they wrote. Nadirah Simmons has such a powerful writing style that's also funky and fun at the same time, it's quite incredible. I love this book so much! I'll be recommending it to my friends, and rereading it over and over, time and time again.

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for historical content. 2 stars for writing style. So 3 on average.

I have 3 things to say about this book. But I'm a white middle aged male so based on my "intersectionality status" you can downgrade my opinion on the matter despite listening to hip-hop since 1983. But we all know that intersectionality is really just critical race theory baloney and people are allowed to form opinions on their own despite that... right?
See that is part of the tone of the book, it's written more like a bad grade 9 English class year end assignment. There is way to much of the authors thoughts than should really be there. It's almost like she took her blog and put it into book form.**

Second thing - I know much of the same history that she's covering because I was listening to some of these ladies. She cover a lot of ground even I learned something new; I head never heard of ESG - UFO, but I certainly have heard the samples. Going to go copy that LP now (another example of her writing style). However there are a few women that she doesn't really get to who probably deserve to be in her black hip-hop women first time book: Miss Melody. 2 Much (Wild Thang, which LL jacked for "Doin it." This leads to my 3rd point)

Third thing - somewhere along the way (Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown most likely) empowerment for women in the rap game meant being more sexually explicit, raunchy. Now raunchiness has always been a thing in the rap game: Indian Girl, Go See the Doctor, Doin' It, etc. But the early ladies likes Lyte, Latifah, even Shante didn't feel the need to get crazy explicit and they held their own with men just fine. I think what happened is that Lil' Kim and Fox hit on a formula that resulted in big sales, that is hard to ignore, but it doesn't mean it's empowerment. What about Lil Simz, or Rhapsody, and artists of that vein (modern female back-pack rap?) they get no mention at all in this book.

** Oh yeah, she likes footnote too much.
PS if you want more than on post script it's PPS not PSS.

[rhondaisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Things First: Hip Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game took me on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. As someone who grew up with hip hop music shaping my adolescent years, this book resonated deeply and gave me all the feels.

Author Nadirah Simmons highlights the incredible contributions of women in hip hop - not just rappers and singers, but also radio personalities, television hosts, executives and more who impacted hip hop culture. We’re introduced to trailblazers like Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Lauren Hill and Missy Elliott. Their stories of struggle, perseverance, and barrier-breaking success need to be amplified.

Beyond music, Simmons also spotlights hip hop ladies I grew up watching on TV like Free from 106 & Park and Ananda Lewis from MTV. Women like Angie Martinez dominated the airwaves taking hip hop radio to new heights. This book brought a new understanding of how integral these women were in driving the culture forward.

And let’s not forget about the newer hip hop ladies like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Meg Thee Stallion – they have all made their marks as well. Did you know Meg was the first female rapper to perform at the Oscars? This book is a wealth of knowledge. The author made sure to encompass hip hop fully, including the fashion/style leaders as well as the infamous Honey magazine which was unique in that it appealed to both hip hop fans and women.

First Things First is an essential piece of hip hop history. It teaches us to honor the past, while still acknowledging how much hip hop continues to evolve with new voices. As a hip hop head who remembers many of these stars in their prime, I gained a deeper appreciation for those who paved the way. This is a must-read for any hip hop lover to have in their library. Ms. Simmons did a phenomenal job capturing the legacy of hip hop’s leading ladies.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 14 of 2024. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5.

I had to kick off Women’s History Month with First Things First.

As someone who is a music lover and listens to hip-hop/rap from time to time (mainly female artists), this book was a treat. The way the book was structured made it feel like the reader was learning something new along the way. I know I did. I’m glad the author shined on the fashion designers that helped style some of the iconic looks of the 80s, 90s, and even 2000s. People tend to forget that fashion is another aspect of hip-hop culture, so reading that section in the book made my heart full. I really want a Misa Hylton memoir or autobiography.

The only thing I wished was in the book are pictures. I wished I got to see never before seen images in the book detailing the artist and their contributions to hip-hop.

I enjoyed this book. Black women have always been in hip-hop, and should be given their just due. Definitely would recommend this book for people who are fans of hip-hop music and the culture, as well as music heads in general.

[Shakira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read! I'm a huge hip-hop fan - It was great to celebrate and find out more surrounding the contributions of specifically women in hip-hop, in such a male dominated industry. The author not only writes about the famous legendary rappers we all know (like Queen Latifah, Meg the Stallion, Missy Elliot, and Lauryn Hill), but there's credit for the achievements of music journalists, fashion designers, and the women who were the ones to pave the way for this genre to take storm and culturally impact society the way it does. I really enjoyed that there's information about classic legends and the new players; you can tell the author has a great finger on our cultural pulse. It was also cool to find tracks on my spotify account when the author mentions songs throughout the book and experience what I learned that way, too. I enjoyed the conversational flow and I know I'll be mentioning tidbits I learned through here to my fellow friends who are music fans as well.

[Adelano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exceptional read. The depth of the content allows you to feel educated on hip hop to level where you can contribute to meaningful conversations about hip hop. It focuses on the women in the space, but allows you to zoom and understand the entire scope of the genre.

Despite the amount of information provided, I never felt overwhelmed. It was presented in a very palatable way.

Another complement that I enjoyed was the numerous opportunities to interact with the text, not just in an imaginary level, but vocally, and I believe that is part of what set this book apart to me.

I really feel more empowered with an understanding of women’s contributions to hip-hop. I know women are at the center of life, but when you actually see it in the shape of historical accounts it brings a different element of it to life.

[Donnakay'sBookWorld · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read with lots of great little tidbits about artists that the general public may not have always been aware of unless you're a super fan or each artist. I definitely learned a few things about these women in hip-hop. Sometimes, it felt like the stories jumped around a little bit, but I guess that it is to be expected when the author is speaking from the place of an intimate relationship with the genre. I think this would be a great collector item to fans of hip-hop and a good introduction for people who want to learn about significant contributions of women within the genre. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this copy

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really cool. Although I love hip-hop I actually don't know many details about its origins (outside of the music documentaries I've binged) and it was interesting to learn about the women who made the movement possible.
The artwork in this book is beautiful and so well done- it definitely added to the stories! The book itself has a approachable pod-cast vibe. The chapters are listed as a track list and each is broken down into digestible facts subsections, quotes, trivia, ratings lists and more.
This would be a really cool gift book for the music lover!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a fun read! It’s a very engaging look at women in the hip hop industry and you feel the excitement through the author’s voice. It feels like you’re having a text conversation and not just “reading” the information. Very relatable and personable writing style. Would recommend to anybody who is a hip hop fan or is interested in learning more about the women who helped shape hip hop!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration of women's contributions in hip hop. Nadirah Simmons structured the book like an album tracklist with each chapter highlighting a rapper, writer, designer, entrepreneur, etc. It would have been near impossible to make an all encompassing book that acknowledged everyone, so please save the "but what about". This is very much Nadirah's own experiences and upbringing in hip hop culture and the personal quality of the book is what makes this an entertaining read.

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive telling of the women that have impacted the hip hop genre since its inception through today. Full of interesting factoids about the women that have become household names to more than just fans of their music. I found it very interesting, but it really just skimmed information about a lot of artists. If you’re hoping for more detailed story about your favorites, you’re better off looking for a book dedicated specifically to them. This was good though.

[na’imah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely well written. The author’s writing style was sophisticated yet relatable, making you feel like you’re having a conversation with her yourself! It also provided insight into lesser known icons of the genre, making sure all who helped hip-hop become what it is today are recognized.

[Dominique Banas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read "First Things First" and it truly did not disappoint. I was completely blown away by how well researched the book is! It is funny, informative and an absolute blast to read. Can't recommend it enough!

[Lu Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!!! I spotlights the many accomplishments of some very important women in hip-hop, something we hardly ever hear about. I’m crossing my fingers and waiting for a volume 2 as the author hinted at in the beginning of the book!!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the way that the author presented the Queens of Hip-Hop. You can definitely feel the author's joy in the subject matter. This was a good book to get more insight into the beings of some of today's top female artists.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for a dive into the history and come up of hip hop as we know it today! From the start at a neighborhood parties hosted by a woman to the ladies who broke their way in and lead others into the mainstream enjoy the lessons the author is happy to give!

[joanie daye · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!!!!! so empowering and amazing i’m so happy i won this giveaway!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read on the underrated superheroes of hip hop (and the world) women! Witty, informational, and visually appealing. Excited for any future works coming from this author!

[Ehsan Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Book! 5/5 !

[Megan Ruskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and educational. This has a permanent home in my library.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Things First is a short history of women in hip-hop. It details the stories of women who helped change and form the genre.

[Rachel Poppers · Rating 3 out of 5]

an ideal coffee table book in print and a podcast in audio. audiobook felt disjointed and non-linear, making it difficult to follow.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nostalgic trip down memory lane! The author put their heart into this and it shows! Well researched and full of interesting tidbits that reads like a transcript of a podcast. It’s organized by “tracks” which made it easy to read a section at a time instead of cover to cover. It was a bit disjointed and hops around a lot from topic to topic. There are pictures and graphics so I’d recommend the physical book over the ebook for formatting reasons. Entertaining and informative, I’d recommend this to anyone interested in music history or fans of hiphop!