Roxanne Shante, Rah Digga, Rapsody, Queen Latifah, Saweetie and Latto are just some of the household names to take the screen in the Netflix docuseries “Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop.”
Produced by a team of acclaimed filmmakers including dream hampton, Hannah Beachler and Raeshem Nijhon along with rap legend, MC Lyte, the four-part series zeroes in on women’s role in the progress of hip-hop over the last half-century despite being erased from its legacy. The four episodes weave in and out of the origins of female rap and the current state of the industry with myriad interviews of rap enthusiasts, scholars, and journalists:
- “Shaping Hip-Hop”
- “What Are They Up Against?”
- “What Have They Lost?”
- “What’s Changing?”
The production team’s background in telling women’s stories shines through the documentary, which Netflix released just days before hip-hop’s 50th birthday on Aug. 11. Hampton is responsible for several articles and films that expose the realities of the music industry, most notably the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly.” Beachler produced both Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and OTR II Tour. Nijhon is the founder of Culture House, the production company that created “The Hair Tales” in collaboration with Tracee Ellis Ross and Oprah Winfrey.
“When we think about the commercial viability of hip-hop on a massive scale, you cannot tell that story without telling it as a story of the ingenuity and vision of a Black woman,” Brittney Cooper, a writer and culture critic, said in the first episode.
Sexuality, misogyny and sisterhood were among the hot topics in the 30-minute episodes.
Latto, an emerging star from Atlanta known for her sexy, southern drawl and empowering songs like “Put It On Da Floor” and “B*tch From Da Souf,” discusses her experience with a male rapper who wouldn’t clear a feature on her album because she wouldn’t sleep with him. Though a daunting experience, Latto’s decision to open up about it was revolutionary.
The series also dives into famed rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s case against Tory Lanez and the discourse that ensued after she was shot. The filmmakers highlight how the women’s candidness about their vulnerability in the public eye was a refreshing contrast from the hush-hush culture of the past.
The documentary comes off as light-hearted despite the sensitive material. The interviewees are passionate and full of personality. The rap legends and newcomers tell their stories styled in maximalist jewelry, glamorous makeup, a variety of hairstyles and occasional curse words.
The initial reaction to “Ladies First” seems relatively positive. Many users tweeted about their appreciation of the documentary.
“I already loved and respected female rap, but now I have soo much more gratitude and appreciation for these strong women,” one user said.
Others felt like the series missed the mark by not highlighting high-profile rappers like Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim and Missy Elliot.
Regardless, the story is optimistic. It depicts rap as a journey, ending with the old school getting their flowers and the newbies forging new paths.
“I will say that there’s never been a more exciting time for women in hip-hop than right now,” Hampton said in a Post interview. “That whole one at a time thing, the idea that you had to be embedded in a crew or had to be co-signed by a man – all of that is gone.”
Essence Wiley is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
