First Ladies of Hip-Hop

Original version

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Music: Hip Hop, RnB & Dancehall

The hidden history of hip-hop through the eyes of the women that have defined the genre.

The women behind the beats. The pioneers who broke barriers in Britain and the US from Sha-Rock to Speech Debelle. Neneh Cherry honours the trailblazers and game-changers.

Series 1

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Ashley Kennedy

Emporium Productions Ltd

First Ladies of Hip-Hop: Series 1: Episode 1

Episode 1

BBC Two - First Ladies of Hip-Hop, Series 1, Episode 1

The women pioneers of hip-hop reveal the story of their role in the genre's creation.

The women behind the beats - hip-hop’s great women pioneers always struggled for recognition, both in Britain and the US. Now they share their stories of how they shaped the genre.

Women in hip-hop have always had to fight for their voices to be heard, but they are integral to the billion-dollar industry hip-hop is today, and they have always been critical to the genre’s story - right back to its Bronx origins in the 70s.

This episode takes a look at the first female pioneers of the genre - from entrepreneurial Bronx teenagers like Cindy Campbell and MCs like Sha Rock, Debbie D and The Mercedes Ladies to super-producer Sylvia Robinson. Also, the first woman to record a solo rap record, Millie Jackson, the first British b-girl, Bubbles, rap duo The Cookie Crew, and Roxanne Shanté, who burst onto the scene in the 80s as the fiercest rapper in the game.

First Ladies of Hip-Hop: Series 1

BBC Two

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First Ladies of Hip-Hop

Series 1

Episode 1

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