Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary

Celebrate the legacy and influence of hip-hop with these reading recommendations.

Updated December 19, 2023
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The come up : an oral history of the rise of hip-hop
Abrams, Jonathan P. D.
The essential oral history of hip-hop, from its origins on the playgrounds of the Bronx to its reign as the most powerful force in pop culture--from the award-winning journalist behind All the Pieces Matter, the New York Times bestselling oral history of The Wire ...
Split decision : life stories
Ice-T (Musician)
Award-winning actor, rapper, and producer Ice-T unveils a compelling and astonishing memoir of his early life robbing jewelry stores until he found fame and fortune--while a handful of bad choices sent his former crime partner down an incredibly different path. Ice-T rose to fame...
Bad fat Black girl : notes from a trap feminist
Bowen, Sesali
"Sesali Bowen is poised to give Black feminism the rejuvenation it needs. Her trendsetting writing and commentary reaches across experiences and beyond respectability. I and so many Black girls still figuring out who they are in this world will gain so much from whatever she has to say."-...
The book of Jose : a memoir
Fat Joe
Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Fat Joe pulls back the curtain on his larger-than-life persona in this gritty, intimate memoir about growing up in the South Bronx and finding his voice through music. "An adrenaline rush . . . buckle...
Hip hop family tree. 1, 1970s-1981
Piskor, Ed
The lore of the early days of hip hop has become the stuff of myth, so what better way to document this fascinating, epic true story than in another great American mythological medium -- the comic book? From exciting young talent and self-proclaimed hip hop nerd Ed Piskor, acclaimed for his...
Hip hop family tree. 2, 1981-1983
Piskor, Ed
Vol. 2 of the graphic novel series Hip Hop Family Tree covers the early years of 1981-1983. Hip Hop has transitioned from the parks and rec rooms to downtown clubs and vinyl records. The performers make moves to separate themselves from the paying customers by dressing more and more flamboyantly,...
Hip hop family tree. 4, 1984-1985
Piskor, Ed
Book 4 charts the rise of Dr. Dre and Def Jam records, and introduces new branches on the "tree": Will Smith, Salt-N-Pepa, Rakim, and Biz Markie. This volume is also jam-packed with films Hollywood released in an attempt to cash in on the phenomenon, like Breakin', Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo, Beat...
Hip hop family tree. 3, 1983-1984
Piskor, Ed
Ed Piskorâe(tm)s acclaimed graphic novel series continues! Book 3 highlights Run DMCâe(tm)s rise to fame and introduces unassailable acts like Whodini, The Fat Boys, Slick Rick, and Doug E Fresh. The Beastie Boys become a rap group. Rick Rubin meets Russell Simmons to form Def Jam. The famous TV...
Can't stop won't stop : a hip-hop history
Chang, Jeff
The American Book Award winner, now completely adapted for a young adult audience! From award-winning author Jeff Chang, Can't Stop Won't Stop is the story of hip-hop, a generation-defining movement and the music that transformed American politics and culture forever....
Original gangstas : the untold story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the birth of West Coast rap
Westhoff, Ben
"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era." -- Kirkus, starred review A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast...
Tupac Shakur : the authorized biography
Robinson, Staci
The authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a "touching, empathetic portrait" (The New York Times) of his life and powerful legacy, fully illustrated with photos, mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and more Artist, poet, actor,...
Mo' meta blues : the world according to Questlove
Questlove
"You have to bear in mind that [Questlove] is one of the smartest motherf*****s on the planet. His musical knowledge, for all practical purposes, is limitless." --Robert Christgau A punch-drunk memoir in which Everyone's Favorite Questlove tells his own story while tackling some of...
Let love have the last word : a memoir
Common (Musician)
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Common--the Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe-winning musician, actor, and activist--follows up his New York Times bestselling memoir One Day It'll All Make Sense with this inspiring exploration of how love...

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