What book is the hip-hop equivalent of Our Band Could Be Your Life or Last Night A DJ Saved My Life?
Something that covers the history in depth and features all the big players. Particularly Kool Herc.
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Kool Herc is in Last Night A DJ Saved My Life a lot if I remember right
But yeah I have no idea, and I aint that interested in old school hip-hop anymore.
.
Man, you're so cool.
cheers
I think there are some cool bits in the film scratch where Kool Herc is featured, Afrika Bambaataa walks you around his block and talks about the start of hip-hop and Grand Master Flash showing how he first got into scratching and beat juggling. Some electro cut up guys as well. Its pretty ace. But yeah I kinda exhausted my interest in the old stuff some time ago after hearing so much as a kid.
Always meant to get this...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catch-Beat-Best-Underground-1987-91/dp/0956189644/ref=pd_sim_b_68
Catch The Beat, its the early days where soul, hip-hop and dance where all merged together really. Thats my favourite bit from early hip-hop which is why I like the Last Night A DJ Saved My Life and Scratch a lot cos its about the beats and DJs making this new music thats a load of fun then it gets taken over by MCs and isn't really dance music anymore.
dunno about that
but the egotrip big book of rap lists was the besssssst
Westsiders by William Shaw
Absolute classic about the underground LA rap scene, following several aspiring rappers, producers & label owners around open mic/rap battle events. A brilliant read.
Sorry didn't read the OP correctly
It's not an exhaustive history and it doesn't feature any big names, but if you love hip-hop you're sure to enjoy it.
Can't Stop, Won't Stop
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Stop-Wont-History-Generation/dp/0091912210
Kool Herc wrote the forward for this, so it should be sort of what you're looking for. It doesn't really bother with anything modern and the evolution of the form, but in terms of the formation of hip hop within the socio-political context of the time - it's the best I've read. It's really fascinating tracing the Jamaican roots of political struggle in reggae music right through to the gang warfare in the Bronx and LA and all the music/culture that surrounds that.
yeah, this is a great book
I read this in conjunction with How the beatles destroyed rock and roll, and there were similar dsicussion in both
Paul Edwards' 'How To Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC'
is really really great reading. i guess its not quite what youre looking for in terms of chronicling loads of hip hop biographies but theres loads of great in depth interviews with pretty much everyone considered important. for a genre with such a diverse amount of individuals all considered really essential i guess it'd be hard to find a direct equivalent compared to, for example, OBCBYL where 80s american indie rock has more easily identifiable set of really important artists. but if youre looking for a pretty essential book about why hip hop is so important with loads of great first-hand information i'd definitely reccommend How To Rap. (its not an instruction manual)
All of the the books mentioned above are really great
Especially Can't Stop, Won't Stop and Ego Trip's Book Of Rap Lists.
For a good reference book, the updated Rough Guide To Hip Hop is pretty good. Not hugely in depth but detailed enough. It's by Peter Shapiro who knows his stuff and writes well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Rough-Guide-Hip-hop-Music/dp/1843532638
For really geeking out, 'Check The Technique' by Brian Coleman is awesome
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Check-Technique-Liner-Hip-Hop-Junkies/dp/0812977750
Basically an oral history of the making of some of the most classic hip hop LPs. One chapter per album, all with major input from the people involved. Really in depth and interesting. Is heavily skewed towards the years 87-97, but if you are interested in albums from that time would totally recommend it
^came here to say 'Check the Technique'
Halfway through and really enjoying it - serious detail, but not offputting
is hip-hop a relevant enough genre for such a book to exist?
no.
Rap is though.
Edan - Fumbling Over Words that Rhyme
Quite nicely done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD10EQ1IXxE
Has anyone read Prodigy's autobiography?
http://www.amazon.com/My-Infamous-Life-Autobiography-Prodigy/dp/1439103186
Seems like it could be quite interesting, but I wondered if anyone here could vouch for it?
Mehodor read it and loved it.
I still have it in my shopping cart, just need to purchase.
Also added to my Amazon wishlist
That said, I've had books on that list for three years so that doesn't add up to much.
It's Not About A Salary
had many fans back in the day. seems to be long out of print and going for a fortune on Amazon; used copies from £26, new copies from £534.11!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Not-About-Salary-Resistance/dp/0860916200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363462912&sr=8-1
I was meaning to start this exact thread
Think I'll purchase that Can't Stop book.
SUB THREAD: If considering the same criteria, does anyone know of a good book for jazz?
have gun will travel by ronin ro
its mainly about the rise of death row records,the ensuing hip hop wars and its messy violent end.although not a full history of rap it covers just about all the 1990's heavy hitters.