Harper Academic

God Save the Queens

The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop

by Kathy Iandoli

On Sale: 11/10/2020

Price: $17.99

God Save the Queens

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God Save the Queens

The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop

by Kathy Iandoli

On Sale: 11/10/2020

Format:

Price: $17.99

About the Book

An NPR Best Book of the Year

"Without God Save the Queens, it is possible that the contributions of dozens of important female hip-hop artists who have sold tens of millions of albums, starred in monumental films, and influenced the direction of the culture would continue to go unrecognized." —AllHipHop.com

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.

Critical Praise

"Iandoli's book is rigorous, insightful, and authoritative — but it's also deadly personal." — NPR Books

"In writing God Save the Queens, Kathy finally does what dozens of histories of Hip-Hop have never even attempted, telling the stories of women in the genre…Without God Save the Queens, it is possible that the contributions of dozens of important female hip-hop artists who have sold tens of millions of albums, starred in monumental films, and influenced the direction of the culture would continue to go unrecognized." — AllHipHop.com

“Music lovers will celebrate this much-needed exploration of the overlooked experiences of women in hip-hop.” — Publishers Weekly

"Intended to be a narrative homage to women in hip-hop, this latest work by Iandoli is that and more. . . . Iandoli gives female artists the recognition they deserve, while showing that there is still work to do. Place this book in the hands of fans of Hanif Abdurraqib and Jeff Chang." — Library Journal

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Product Details

  • ISBN: 9780062878519
  • ISBN 10: 0062878514
  • Imprint: Dey Street Books
  • On Sale: 11/10/2020
  • Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.790 in (d)
  • Pages: 352
  • List Price: $17.99
  • BISAC1 : MUSIC / History & Criticism
  • BISAC2 : MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Rap & Hip Hop
  • BISAC3 : SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies