Hip Hop Divas
As a single source on distaff purveyors of "thick, syrupy bass lines and Jeep-rocking hip hop beats," this set ofVibemagazine profiles is hard to beat. Written in streetwise and therefore YA-friendly language, it covers such stars as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Lil' Kim and caps the performer profiles with a "Hip-Hop Herstory" and two think pieces on women, hip-hop, and women and hip-hop. This is all positive stuff by writers who are mostly down with their subjects, and those who see these young women and their music as sorry signs of the times probably won't care for it. Still, the book provides insightful backgrounding on some of the most vital pop-music voices around. Take Yo Yo. Important enough from working with Ice Cube, she is celebrated here for involvement with the "famous IBWC, or Intelligent Black Women's Coalition" and the strong feminist message of lyrics like "No, Yo Yo's not a 'ho' or a whore / and if that's what you're here for / exit through the door."Mike TribbyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved