Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Insightful historical doc discusses sex, drugs, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LADIES FIRST: A STORY OF WOMEN IN HIP-HOP tracks the history of rap music through the women who made (and are making) an impact on the genre and on the culture. The series features interviews with Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante, Tierra Whack, and more, discussing their careers and the obstacles that Black women face in the music industry.
Is It Any Good?
This docuseries is a corrective, and a necessary one, that shines a light on the female pioneers of the genre and their influence on today's most popular rappers. Most contemporary hip-hop documentaries retell the same narrative of hip-hop history, which is dominated by men; Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop views the culture through a different prism. But the astonishing thing about the documentary is that it doesn't simply retell history; it uses hip-hop as a way to discuss complex and critical issues that Black women face not only in the music industry, but in American culture at large.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about hip-hop. How many of the artists featured in Ladies First do you listen to regularly? How many were you familiar with? What did the series make you appreciate about these artists?
What are some differences between hip-hop in the 1970s and '80s and contemporary hip-hop? How does the series make connections between the two eras? Which trailblazing artists influenced the modern stars?
What are some of the issues in the music industry that these rappers speak on? How did the artists navigate these issues throughout their careers? How has the music industry changed since the 1980s?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 9, 2023
- Cast : Queen Latifah , MC Lyte , Roxanne Shanté
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : History , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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