As a huge fan of Trina, diving head first into Trina's memoir, Da Baddest, was a non-negotiable. I've loved Trina since I heard her rap that feature on Trick Daddy's Nann in 1998, much to my mother's chagrin. In my early teens, I admired Trina's beauty, confidence, assertiveness, and style. And while I usually had to sneak to listen to so much of her music at the time, Trina left an indelible mark on my friends and I (Silver Dollars, Dime Status Dames, y'all remember?). And over the years, my love for the Diamond Princess has only grown in admiration.
I enjoyed reading Da Baddest from the start-- learning about Trina's upbringing, her city, and the elements that shaped who she was becoming. I loved getting to know how she got into Uncle Luke videos, got involved in the hip-hop scene, and came to grow as such an iconic artist. Reading along as she spoke up for herself in such a male-centered industry inspired me. Seeing how she took risks, stayed the course, and worked hard to make her dreams to live a glamorous life come true impressed me all the more. Trina was always a rockstar in my eyes, so it was refreshing to read about her taking chances, owning her mistakes, and following her dreams.
While I didn't read anything I was surprised by or didn't already know, I loved digesting this book from Trina's point of view. It's one thing to hear about relationships in tabloids or blogs. It's another to see in print exactly how Trina felt in the moments she shared with those she's been publicly connected to. It was refreshing to see her building lasting friendships with other artists, such as Missy, Eve, and Monica. And I liked that she seemed so warm and giving to her friends. I did, however, feel so sad to read about all the loss she's experienced over the years. She's the type of woman I'll always champion for, whether she's constantly played over the airwaves or not. I truly wish her the best.
Overall, Da Baddest was a nice, quick read that I fully enjoyed. I'm glad that Trina shared these parts of herself with her fans and I look forward to seeing more from her in the near future!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Many thanks to Netgalley + Simon & Schuster for the eARC of Da Baddest by Katrina Taylor. It was truly appreciated!
WILL YOU BE ADDING DA BADDEST TO YOUR READING LIST?
