Queens
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fun hip-hop drama has strong women, mature content.
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Queens
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What's the Story?
QUEENS is a dramatic comedy about four 40-something women originally from Queens, N.Y,. who once topped the music charts as a 1990s hip-hop group. Making up the legendary group Nasty Bitches were Xplicit Lyrics, aka Naomi (Brandy Norwood); Professor Sex, aka Brianna (played by Eve); Butter Pecan, otherwise known as Valeria (Nadine Velazquez); and Jill, aka Da Thrill (Naturi Naughton). Twenty years later, Brianna is a stay-at-home mom of five married to an untrustworthy college professor (RonReaco Lee), Naomi is on the road trying to desperately hold on to her fame, and Jill is a conservative Catholic woman living in Montana with her husband (played by Emerson Brooks) and a secret. Meanwhile, Valeria, who is blamed for breaking up the group, has found success as a daytime talk show host. They've been estranged from each other, are facing their own personal challenges, and aren't up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. But now the talented women have a chance to get back together, renew their friendship, and reignite the careers they once had.
Is It Any Good?
The smart, female-centered series offers a story world in which women over 40 are able to reclaim themselves in the hip-hop industry. As the women bond, confront old demons, and renegotiate their personal lives, they also highlight some of problems women in the hip-hop industry continue to face, including being exploited by men (particularly White men) for profit, dealing with a prolific drug culture, and ageism. Meanwhile, like any TV primetime drama, Queens also is driven by romance, deceit, and some evil twists. It's meant to be fun, and you can't help feel nostalgic about the late 1990s music scene when you watch Brandy's impressive rapping skills, and Eve and Naturi Naughton's talented performances. But the best part is that it manages to deliver all of this with a refreshingly empowered narrative in which talented, older Black and Latina women are retaking ownership of their lives and their careers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history of women in hip-hop. What are some of the challenges women in the industry have faced over the years? Have all of these challenges been overcome?
What does Queens have to say about the hip-hop industry today vs. 20 years ago? What has changed? Has anything stayed the same?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 19, 2021
- Cast: Brandy Norwood , Nadine Velazquez , Naturi Naughton , Eve Cooper
- Network: ABC
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: November 18, 2022
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