When We Were Queens: Goddesses Rising On WBAI's Hip-Hop Takeover

Happy Summer Solstice! It's that time again for WBAI's Hip-Hop Takeover, a 25 hour marathon of Hip-Hop themed programming with talk, music, news and all sorts of good stuff. The Goddesses Rising crew will be there again (I think this is our 5th time participating!) hosting an hour show, "When We Were Queens," to go along with this year's theme: Tribute to the Pioneers. We're on from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., so you'll hear yours truly, goddess Angelika, and our goddess sister TastyKeish from Rise Up Radio. Join us for a special mix from the divine DJ Chela, interviews with Hip-Hop feminism pioneer Joan Morgan, and Sherri-Sherr of the Mercedes Ladies (courtesy of Davey D). In the in-between time, we'll be reminiscing about our favorite "old school" lady emcees and taking your calls, so join us and give us a ring!

MEGA thanks to Ife Dancy for having us join the Hip-Hop Takeover again, we are always honored to be part of such a beautiful community. Listen live online or if you're in the NYC metro area, it's on the FM dial at 99.5 FM.

And don't forget the afterparty!

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Goddess Rising Hip Hop Takeover Summary & Book List

Forming Goddess Rising: A Union for Women of the Hip Hop Generation
In December 2007 as part of the Hip Hop Takeover weekend, Rosa Clemente, Makeda Voletta, Nida "Wonder Woman" Khan, Janna Zinzi (jaz) and Angelika Imani spoke about Hip Hop and Feminism as part of a Goddess Rising Union project on WBAI 99.5 FM.

Thanks to DJ Chela we played a mix of music by female hip hop artists, such as Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Salt-n-Pepa, and more.

The kindred spirits talked about the different roles that women play in hip hop, the history of hip hop, women's history, women as the backbone of hip hop and other movements throughout history, when female rappers were mainstream, the impact of the entertainment industry on hip hop as

a culture, the lack of a real liberation movement for women of color, debated whether or not there is a lack of sisterhood in this generation, and highlighted the sisterhood amongst female hip hop journalist. Future discussions with cover spirituality in hip hop, female sexuality, working class women uniting for collective economic power, and "how to make women's economic and health issues sexy!"

Thanks to Ife Dancy for showing us love and letting us goddesses rising bless the 2007 Hip-Hop Takeover.

Suggested Reading:

1. When ChickenHeads Come Home to Roost by Joan Morgan

2. Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks

3. Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Women's Guide to Why Feminism Matters by Jessica Valenti

4. Third Wave Feminism: Critical Exploratons Edited by Stacy Gills

5. Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminism Anthology Edited by Gwendolyn D. Pough

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