First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game by Nadirah Simmons

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

• 
  MissBecka Gee

  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.
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  Kiara Kenney

  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.
• 
  Shay

  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.
• 
  rhondaisreading

  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.
• 
  Lacey

  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!
• 
  Daniel

  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.
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  na’imah

  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.
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  Dominique Banas

  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!
  
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  Kimberly

  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.
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  Dani

  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!
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  joanie daye

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

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

  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!