Library discard #diddy #drdre #jayz #hiphop #moguls #musicians #entrepreneurs #africanamericans #rapmusic 

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

New Jersey

Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop's Multibillion-Dollar Rise

Tracing the careers of hip-hop's three most dynamic stars, this deeply reported history brilliantly examines the entrepreneurial genius of the first musician tycoons: Diddy, Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z.

Being successful musicians was simply never enough for the three kings of hip-hop. Diddy, Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z lifted themselves from childhood adversity into tycoon territory, amassing levels of fame and wealth that not only outshone all other contemporary hip-hop artists, but with a combined net worth of well over $2 billion made them the three richest American musicians, period.

Yet their fortunes have little to do with selling their own albums: between Diddy's Ciroc vodka, Dre's $3 billion sale of his Beats headphones to Apple, and Jay-Z's Tidal streaming service and other assets, these artists have transcended pop music fame to become lifestyle icons and moguls.

Hip-hop is no longer just a musical genre; it's become a way of life that encompasses fashion, film, food, drink, sports, electronics and more -- one that has opened new paths to profit and to critical and commercial acclaim. Thanks in large part to the Three Kings -- who all started their own record labels and released classic albums before moving on to become multifaceted businessmen -- hip-hop has been transformed from a genre spawned in poverty into a truly global multibillion-dollar industry.

These men are the modern embodiment of the American Dream, but their stories as great thinkers and entrepreneurs have yet to be told in full. Based on a decade of reporting, and interviews with more than 100 sources including hip-hop pioneers Russell Simmons and Fab 5 Freddy; new-breed executives like former Def Jam chief Kevin Liles and venture capitalist Troy Carter; and stars from Swizz Beatz to Shaquille O'Neal, 3 Kings tells the fascinating story of the rise and rise of the three most influential musicians in America.

3 Kings

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William Buckholz

Rap songs are famous for their double entendres, clever turns of phrase, and general ingenuity, but that doesn't mean things always make sense the first time around. Enter Understand Rap, a very funny pop-cultural reference book based on the website of the same name, which precisely explains the confusing lyrics and terms used in rap songs using language that even the most un-hip person can understand. The juxtaposition of a dry, academic tone with hip-hop terminology results in a book that's as entertaining as it is informative.

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Texas

Explanations of Confusing Rap Lyrics That You and Your Grandma Can Understand

Although rap music is famous for its ingenuity, double entendres and clever turns of phrase, until now no one has attempted to collect rap lyrics into an organised compendium. Enter Understand Rap, a very funny pop-cultural reference book based on the website of the same name, which precisely explains all the confusing terms and lyrics used in rap songs in a language even the most un-hip person can understand. The result is a book with breakout potential that's both entertaining and highly informative. The juxtaposition of dry, academic manner with Hip Hop terminology in Understand Rap frequently lends itself to ironic comedy gold. For example: Lyric: 'Been servin' since you was doin' the runnin' man'. Explanation: My experience selling drugs began long ago, while you were still concerning yourself with immature things like doing goofy dances where you look like you're running in place. (From Song: Rubberband Man on Album: Trap Muzik by Artist: T.I.) Understand Rap features hip hop artists of all names, colours, and creeds and organise their lyrics into the following categories: Cars, Money, Drugs/Alcohol, People, Places, Fashion, Crime/Weapons, Insults, Skills/Pride and Sex/Relationships.

Understand Rap

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Rick Ross

Neil Martinez-Belkin

Ex-library. Catalog markers. Light shelf wear on jacket. Subtle. Pages in great shape. Crisp and clean. Sharp photography. No dog ears or scribbles. Please see photos for reference.

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Ohio

A Memoir

The highly anticipated memoir from hip-hop icon Ross chronicles his coming of age amid Miami's crack epidemic, his star-studded controversies, and his unstoppable rise to fame. Ross is an indomitable presence in the music industry, but few people know his full story.

Hurricanes

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#paperback #tupac #biography #tupacshakur #hiphop #rap #poet #music #nonfiction

New York

This series tells the stories of the leading figures of hip-hop, packed full of unrivalled information and full-colour photos.

Tupac

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Felicia Pride

Maryland

100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs

In this book of life lessons culled from hip-hop culture, author Felicia Pride examines a wide range of hip-hop songs and artists, interpreting life through their lenses. Growing up with hip-hop, Pride has come to realize the way it shaped how she thinks, writes, and reacts, making her the person she is today. By incorporating her own experiences and reflections with the rapper's message, she focuses on the positive, motivational influence hip-hop has on its audience. With each life lesson aptly titled after a hip-hop song, such as Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" or GangStarr's "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow," The Message explores spirituality, success, love, business, and more through hip-hop. Pride infuses these essential truths with examples from rappers' lives and music, providing positive reflections on hip-hop culture. For example, she tells you how to study how those with staying power, such as Missy Elliott and Russell Simmons, handle their business and how to incorporate similar tactics into your own life: be creative, diversify, handle your business. The Message shares the wisdom that Pride has learned from hip-hop, creating what is essentially a soundtrack to the hip-hopper's life.

The Message

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Nadirah Simmons

Tennessee

Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game

LADIES FIRST reframes the history of hip-hop but, this time, women are given credit for all their trailblazing achievements that have left an undeniable impact on music. LADIES FIRST takes readers on a journey through some of the most notable firsts by women in hip-hop history and their importance. Real firsts like Queen Latifah becoming the first solo woman rapper to have a major record deal, Lauryn Hill remains the only female rapper in history who has earned a total of 8 Grammy awards, MC Lyte being the first solo woman rapper to release a full album, Nicki Minaj becoming the first female rapper in history to have a net worth of $100 million, and April Walker being the first woman to dominate in the streetwear game, not to forget metaphorical firsts like Missy Elliott being the first woman rapper to go to space. LADIES FIRST is a celebration of the achievements of women in hip-hop who broke down barriers and broke the mold.

First Things First

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#paperback #50cent #rap #hiphop #Blackauthor #Blackcharacter

Softcover

A hard-hitting and inspirational novel about the redemption of a bully from international icon 50 Cent

Thirteen-year-old Butterball takes readers on a journey through the moments that made him into the playground bully he is today. Loosely inspired by 50 Cent's own adolescence and written with his teenage son in mind, Playground received wide critical praise--and is now poised to become a perennial classic.

Playground

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Laban Carrick Hill

HC with dust jacket. DJ shows minimal wear. Tight binding. Pages like new. 

California

DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop

A John Steptoe New Talent Award Winner

Before there was hip hop, there was DJ Kool Herc.

On a hot day at the end of summer in 1973 Cindy Campbell threw a back-to-school party at a park in the South Bronx. Her brother, Clive Campbell, spun the records. He had a new way of playing the music to make the breaks--the musical interludes between verses--longer for dancing. He called himself DJ Kool Herc and this is When the Beat Was Born. From his childhood in Jamaica to his youth in the Bronx, Laban Carrick Hill's book tells how Kool Herc came to be a DJ, how kids in gangs stopped fighting in order to breakdance, and how the music he invented went on to define a culture and transform the world.

When the Beat Was Born

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Dalton Higgins

Jane Springer

#paperback #hiphop #rap #groundworkguide #poetry a little squished on front cover (pic)

A Groundwork Guide by Dalton Higgins

Hip Hop World

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Clover Hope

Heavy Paperback (2 to 4 lbs)

New Hampshire

100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop

An illustrated highlight reel of more than 100 women in rap who have helped shape the genre and eschewed gender norms in the process The Motherlode highlights more than 100 women who have shaped the power, scope, and reach of rap music, including pioneers like Roxanne Shanté, game changers like Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott, and current reigning queens like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Lizzo--as well as everyone who came before, after, and in between. Some of these women were respected but not widely celebrated. Some are impossible not to know. Some of these women have stood on their own; others were forced into templates, compelled to stand beside men in big rap crews. Some have been trapped in a strange critical space between respected MC and object. They are characters, caricatures, lyricists, at times both feminine and explicit. This book profiles each of these women, their musical and career breakthroughs, and the ways in which they each helped change the culture of rap.

The Motherlode

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Shea Serrano

HIP-HOP (AND OTHER THINGS), which was an instant New York Times bestseller upon its publication, is the third and final book in the (AND OTHER THINGS) series. It's 32 chapters long. And every chapter is a different rap question that needs to be answered. You should buy it.

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

HIP-HOP (AND OTHER THINGS) is the third book in the (And Other Things) series. The first two--Basketball (And Other Things) and Movies (And Other Things)--were both #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Hip-Hop (and Other Things) - First Edition

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Ebony LaDelle

Washington

Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers--or so it seems. After all, at seventeen, he has his own segment on Detroit's popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, where he dishes out advice to the brokenhearted.

Prince has always dreamed of becoming a DJ and falling in love. But being the main caretaker for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and his little brother means his dreams will stay just that and the only romances in his life are the ones he hears about from his listeners.

Until he meets Dani Ford.

Dani isn't checking for anybody. She's focused on her plan: ace senior year, score a scholarship, and move to New York City to become a famous author. But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what's blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago.

And that's one thing Dani can't do.

When the romantic DJ meets the ambitious writer, sparks fly. Prince is smitten, but Dani's not looking to get derailed. She gives Prince just three dates to convince her that he's worth falling for.

Three dates for the love expert to take his own advice, and just maybe change two lives forever.

Love Radio

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#paperback #hiphop #music #rap #nonfiction #history

A Short History

Tells the story of how a movement that began in the neighborhoods of the Bronx, New York, grew to become a major musical, cultural, political, and philanthropic force over the world. This book helps readers learn how slavery and the civil rights movement helped lead to the birth of hip-hop.

Hip Hop

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Nelson George

Florida

Examine the society-altering collision between black youth culture and mass media into big business. A finalist for the National Book Critics Award in Criticism.

Hip Hop America

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STREET DANCE: THE BEST MOVES is the perfect introduction to major street dance styles with easy-to-follow step-by-step photography. As well as learning the various types of street dance, including B-boy, Popping, Locking, Hip Hop and House - and the basic moves of each of these - you'll get tips on the best tracks to dance to, what clothes to wear to look the part, and be given expert advice from top dancers across the globe. .

Throughout the book there are also embedded videos, showing the step-by-steps put into practice so you can check you're doing it right!


The Best Moves

Street Dance

Tiffany D. Jackson

Arizona

In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered—not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party. With the help of Steph’s younger sister Jasmine, they come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: the Architect. Soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a hotheaded music label rep, the trio must prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave. As the pressure of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only, each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

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Justin Tinsley

A fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend, It Was All a Dream is based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists. And it places Biggie’s life in context, both within the history of rap but also the wider cultural and political forces that shaped him, including Caribbean immigration, the Reagan-era disinvestment in public education, street life, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and the booming, creative, and influential 1990s music industry. Justin Tinsley’s biography is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he has left behind.

Biggie and the World That Made Him

From a talented young journalist on the rise, a deeply reported, timely new biography of the Notorious B.I.G., publishing for what would have been his 50th birthday The Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most charismatic and talented artists of the 1990s. Born Christopher Wallace and raised in Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie lived an almost archetypal rap life: young trouble, drug dealing, guns, prison, a giant hit record, the wealth and international superstardom that came with it, then an early violent death. Biggie released his first record, Ready to Die, in 1994, when he was only 22. Less than three years later, he was killed just days before the planned release of his second record Life After Death. Journalist Justin Tinsley's It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend. It is based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists. And it places Biggie's life in context, both within the history of rap but also the wider cultural and political forces that shaped him, including Caribbean immigration, the Reagan era disinvestment in public education, street life, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and the booming, creative, and influential 1990s music industry. This is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he has left behind.

It Was All a Dream

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Virginia

Action Bronson

South Carolina

A True Story

An entirely original and empowering memoir meets self-help guide from the bestselling author, rapper, artist, and chef Action Bronson From the New York Times bestselling author, chef-turned-rapper, and host of Viceland's F*ck, That's Delicious and The Untitled Action Bronson Show, F*ck It, I'll Start Tomorrow is a brutally honest memoir about struggles with weight, food addiction, and the journey to self-acceptance. In his signature voice, Action Bronson shares all that he's learned in the past decade to help you help yourself. This isn't a road map to attaining a so-called perfect body. Instead, Bronson will share his journey to find confidence, keep the negative vibes at bay, stay sane, chill out, and not look in the mirror hoping to see anyone but yourself. F*ck It, I'll Start Tomorrow is not about losing weight--it's about being and feeling excellent regardless of your size or shape. It's about living f*cking healthy, period.

F*ck It, I'll Start Tomorrow

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Sadi Muktadir

Oklahoma

A heart-wrenching story of four students who find hope and kinship amidst the challenges of growing up at a harrowing Madrasa in rural Ontario Nabil, freshly plucked from middle school in Scarborough, is struggling to find his place at Al Haque Islamic Academy. Between the intense religious studies and new rules, he still longs for his past life of baseball, video games, comic books and girls. When he stumbles upon Maaz and Nawaaz doing something they shouldn't be doing, he quickly falls into their company and joins them in their misdeeds. And together with the new transfer student and unruly class clown Farid, the group executes their rebellion. One day, while exploring the Madrasa at night, the boys discover the diary of a student who lived on the grounds when it was an all-girls Catholic school. Cynthia Lewis' words connect them to a bygone era and inspires them to hatch a plot to escape. They form a pact, and together, their ultimate decision sends them hurtling down a path that changes their lives forever. Strikingly original, and as poignant as it is humorous, Land of No Regrets is a vibrant, compassionate exploration of faith, friendship, identity, and the true value of freedom.

The Land of No Regrets (ARC)

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#paperback #hiphop #ya #youngadult #fiction 

Theresa Anderson is every kind of smart but, with the example of super-achieving older brother towering over her, she hasn't even been trying. With her parents and teachers always on her case and her best friend pregnant and dropped out of school, Theresa turns to hip-hop for comfort. Theresa meets Devon, whose tough-guy reputation conceals ablazing ambition for academic success. They help each other face up to their talent and ambition, but then Devon gets shot in a street fight, leaving Theresa with two unfinished college applcations and time is running out...

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Zack O'Malley Greenburg

3 Kings

William Buckholz

Understand Rap

Rick Ross; Neil Martinez-Belkin

Hurricanes

Hal Marcovitz

Tupac

Felicia Pride

The Message

Nadirah Simmons

First Things First

50 50 Cent; Lizzi Akana (Illustrator)

Playground

Laban Carrick Hill; Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

When the Beat Was Born

Dalton Higgins

Hip Hop World

Clover Hope

The Motherlode

Shea Serrano

Hip-Hop (and Other Things) - First Edition

Ebony LaDelle

Love Radio

Rosa Waters

Hip Hop

Nelson George

Hip Hop America

DJ Hooch

Street Dance

Tiffany D. Jackson

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Justin Tinsley

It Was All a Dream

Justin Tinsley

It Was All a Dream

Action Bronson

F*ck It, I'll Start Tomorrow

Nadirah Simmons

First Things First

Sadi Muktadir

The Land of No Regrets (ARC)

Ebony LaDelle

Love Radio

Ebony LaDelle

Love Radio

Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Hip-Hop High School