God Save the Queens

September 16, 2019
Iandoli (Commissary Kitchen) explores the role of women in hip-hop from its inception in the early 1970s up to the present in this insightful music history. Women have always struggled to get mic time, Iandoli writes: when early groups formed, “only one woman per male crew could exist,” and, in the 2000s, “record labels started placing a cap on the number of female rappers they signed.” Even today, Iandoli notes, feuds between stars such as Nicki Minaj and Cardi B send the message there’s only room for one woman at the top. Throughout the history of hip-hop, women climbing the ranks have often been forced to choose between two archetypes: the “Sex Kitten” and the “Nubian Goddess,” who “embraced pro-Black beauty.” And over time, artists who found success adopting personas “who loved sex, violence, and designer fashion” forged an even narrower standard: “women now had to be sexy—the dirtier the better.” Iandoli gives attention to talented women who were lost in that shuffle, to the big names who opened avenues for others (such as Roxanne Shanté, Lauryn Hill, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah), and to contemporary artists including Megan Thee Stallion who continue to evolve the genre. Music lovers will celebrate this much-needed exploration of the overlooked experiences of women in hip-hop. Photos.

October 1, 2019

Intended to be a narrative homage to women in hip-hop, this latest work by Iandoli (coauthor, Commissary Kitchen) is that and more. Iandoli recalls the mid-1980s Roxanne Wars and traces the evolution of pioneers MC Lyte and Salt-N-Pepa along with Queen Latifah and later TLC, who incorporated singing into their rhymes. In explaining how women were the genre's greatest assets and causalities, Iandoli examines the First Lady model--for example, Eve with Ruff Ryders--in which a label wouldn't always make room for more than one. Iandoli sees 1996 as a pivotal year, with Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, and the Fugees topping the charts. The author considers the success and later noticeable absence of Lauryn Hill, especially during the music industry's transition, in the 2000s, to focusing on proven artists in a singles-driven world. Male rappers, including Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G., loom in the background, as they molded women's public personas, often as sexy or violent, to varying success. Final chapters succinctly cover the rise of stars Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. VERDICT 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.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2019
Iandoli's "narrative homage to all the women in hip-hop . . . who have pioneered movements and opened doors" introduces a hit-parade of major players: Roxanne Shant�, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Rah Digga, Salt-N-Pepa, and on and on up to still-new artists Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Music journalist Iandoli synthesizes ample source material (including her own interviews) in an efficient and quippy style, writing with admiration foremost but not glossing over salient matters like beefs and diss tracks. Her narrative becomes more personal with the stories of artists she experienced as a fan in real time, such as the TLC cassette brought back for her from a concert she was too young to attend and a delightful chance encounter with L'il Kim at a New Jersey TGIFridays. Occasional, brief "interludes" touch on subjects like Li'l Kim and Foxy Brown's epic feud and Lauryn Hill's abrupt retreat from the spotlight. While Iandoli shows how some struggles have persisted through the decades, like the constant battle to not be objectified, her outlook is heaped with gratitude and upward-trending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)