Brooklyn White-Grier’s New Book to Explore History of Women Rap Battles

Though they might not always be as heralded, women have played crucial roles in some of the most impactful rap battles in history. Now, in a debut book from veteran culture writer Brooklyn White-Grier, those stories, and the social context surrounding them, will be explored in detail.

Today, the Wirecutter senior staff writer, exclusively with Okayplayer, announces Below the Belt: Behind Beefs Between Women in Rap, a book set to be released through HarpersCollins’ Amistad Books. The book deal was represented by Kima Jones at Triangle House Literary, and after signing it, Grier looks forward to telling stories of unique rap battles featuring some of the most prominent women in hip-hop.

According to the book description, the book “Chronicles the musical history of rap beefs from the Roxanne Wars, to Fox vs. Kim, to our current moment with Megan Thee Stallion vs. Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, examining the structural and societal issues that are present for not only Black women in the entertainment industry, but for Black women.”

Brooklyn White-Grier’s new book will examine some of the fiercest rap battles featuring women. Credit: Photo Courtesy of Brooklyn-White Grier

The book is a new endeavor for Grier, but it’s also part of a tradition that stretches to the beginning of her career.

“Women in rap have been central to my work as a culture journalist,” she tells Okayplayer, exclusively. “I’ve been molding the concept of Below the Belt: Behind Beefs Between Women in Rap since 2019. Overall, I knew I wanted to write, and read, something meaty that addressed the history and nuance of rap beef in a fresh way.”

While there’s a tendency to analyze beef and rap battles in a vacuum, Grier hopes to examine those moments through a sociological lens. “I hope to start a conversation,” she explains. “The ways we talk about women, beef and battling are due for reframing. It’s more than songs and social media posts. There are personalities, social conditions, and a living, breathing culture to consider.”

Pre-order for the book will be available soon.