The Pioneers

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 50 years ago.This episode takes a look at the first female pioneers of the genre - from entrepreneurial Bronx teenagers like Cindy Campbell and MCs Sha Rock, Debbie D and The Mercedes Ladies to super-producer Sylvia Robinson, as well as 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.