Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Texas

Lyrics by Malik “Malik-16” Sharif

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Arizona

A History of the Hip-Hop Generation

Can't Stop Won't Stop is a powerful cultural and social history of the end of the American century, and a provocative look into the new world that the hip-hop generation created.

Forged in the fires of the Bronx and Kingston, Jamaica, hip-hop became the Esperanto of youth rebellion and a generation-defining movement. In a post-civil rights era defined by deindustrialization and globalization, hip-hop crystallized a multiracial, polycultural generation's worldview, and transformed American politics and culture. But that epic story has never been told with this kind of breadth, insight, and style.

Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, graffiti writers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip-hop's forebears, founders, and mavericks, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, and Ice Cube, Can't Stop Won't Stop chronicles the events, the ideas, the music, and the art that marked the hip-hop generation's rise from the ashes of the 60's into the new millennium.

Can't Stop Won't Stop

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Music spotlight collector’s edition.
Magazine about 50 years of hip hop… from Drake to Run DMC.
New
2023

California

The Entire History from Run DMC to N.W.A. to Drake and Beyond

50 Years of Hip-Hop

Magazine
What’s Tupac Spelled backwards? Caput…
New answers and an arrest in the murder.
Centennial Specials
Printed in the USA

Tupac

Blake Harrison

Alexander Rappaport

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Maryland

The New and Innovative Approach to Learning American History

Featuring an audio CD with 45 minute of original, educational, and cutting-edge music, this latest entry in the innovative Flocabulary series turns U.S. history—from pre-Colonial days through World War II—into an enjoyable experience. No more yawning through lists of dull, dry dates: this effective and engaging combination of rhythm and rhyme makes remembering the basic curriculum as easy as apple pie. The topics range from the first meeting between the Native Americans and the European explorers to the Seeds of Revolution (“Taxin’ and Representin’”), from Lincoln and the Civil War to the Industrial Revolution, from the Great Depression to Bombs Over Berlin. It’s perfect for any student preparing for the AP placement test or the SAT II.

Hip-Hop U. S. History

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#hiphop #bipoc #fiction #ya #youngadult #streetlit #rap #bedsty #Brooklyn 

New Jersey

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.

cfabdf4c-45c6-425f-8637-b6dcf2cbef8f-1

Michigan

True Stories from the Road on Music, Science, and Senseless Love

Witty and moving, this debut memoir in essays from the dynamic rapper and singer Dessa, is a candid account of her life in the van as a hard-touring musician, her determination to beat long odds to make a name for herself as a performing artist, and her struggle to fall out of love with someone in her band. In a literary, honest style, evoking Amanda Palmer and Miranda July, Dessa demonstrates just how far the mind can travel while the body is on the six-hour ride to the next rap show.

My Own Devices

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#juicyread #blackfeminism #juicy #hip-hop #motherhood #blackwomen #feminism #blackculture #blm #woke 

Georgia

A Hip-Hop Feminest Breaks It Down

A provocative and streetwise analysis of the difficult problems and concerns facing today's African-American women discusses the misogyny of hip hop, the rise on unwed motherhood, the lack of positive role models, and more, offering cogent suggestions and views. 35,000 first printing.

When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost

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

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.

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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#hip-hop #djkoolherc #corettascottkingaward

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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Gobi

Afeni Shakur

Thoughts on Tupac Amaru Shakur in Pictures and Words

Nine years after his death, Tupac Shakur's allure is stronger than ever. With more than a quarter of a million copies of his poetry book sold to date; countless Internet sites; the Tupac Amaru Centre in Georgia, USA; university courses dedicated to his poetry and new hit recordings, it's clear that interest in this complex and fascinating artist is still growing. THRU MY EYES is a collection of fifty photographs of Tupac, many never seen before by the public. Gathered from the last year of Tupac's life (1995-1996), these are revealing and poignant images that show him pulling away from the dark forces that influenced his life and developing into a mature artist. With text written by Gobi, Tupac's former music video director/producer, business partner and friend, THRU MY EYES provides an in-depth look at a frequently misunderstood performer and also reveals the lighter more playful side of Tupac. There are photographs presenting him as a lover of life and sex symbol; photographs of Tupac in frivolous mood, dressed as Rick James; photographs of him playing joyfully with his kids. And of course there are images depicting Tupac working at his crafts - acting and rapping - imbuing every task with the dedication and determination that defined his life.

Thru My Eyes

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#bipoc #youngadultfiction #contemporary #bostonglobehornbookwinner #hardcover #onthecomeup #music #intense #hiphop #ya 

On The Come Up

18522423-06a9-48a1-81d3-31abbca692db-1

#paperback #tiffanydjackson #youngadult #hiphop #murdermystery 

Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

Iowa

Let Me Hear A Rhyme 

Has a mark at the bottom of the book. A small dent on the front cover. #ya #youngadultfiction #fiction #bipoc #juvenilefiction #hiphop #intense #hardcover #angiethomas

Clover Hope

New York

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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Ben Westhoff

The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap

"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 hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. And they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever--Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.'s shocking success lead to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap's peak, two of its biggest names--Tupac and Biggie Smalls--were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.

Original Gangstas

e2d85ea5-d52e-48df-b18b-208b31a86dc7-1

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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Oregon

Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son, Christopher Wallace, Aka Notorious B. I. G.

The mother of murdered rap artist Notorious B.I.G. describes his precocious childhood in Brooklyn; relationship with his widow, Faith Evans; and ongoing efforts to solve the mystery of his death, in an account that reveals her misgivings about the entertainment industry and shares previously unpublished photographs. 75,000 first printing.

Biggie

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Jay-Z

Book does show some definite wear. The spine is slightly out of square. 

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time. Praise for Decoded “Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author’s own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times “One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.”—The New Yorker “Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.”—Los Angeles Times “A riveting exploration of Jay-Z’s journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.”—The Boston Globe “Shawn Carter’s most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating.”—Entertainment Weekly “Hip-hop’s renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Decoded

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

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

46d1016a-18d8-4990-9335-52ef0a579612-1

Steve Stoute

How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

A former record executive and highly sought brand consultant traces the rise of hip-hop culture from a niche genre to the mainstream, revealing how hip-hop has contributed to a new generation of multi-ethnic consumers who share experiences and values that can be tapped for effective marketing campaigns. 40,000 first printing.

Save this search

Tiffany D. Jackson

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Jeff Chang; D. J. Kool Herc (Introduction by)

Can't Stop Won't Stop

A360media

50 Years of Hip-Hop

a360media

Tupac

Blake Harrison; Alexander Rappaport

Hip-Hop U. S. History

Tiffany D. Jackson

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Dessa

My Own Devices

Joan Morgan

When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost

Zack O'Malley Greenburg

3 Kings

William Buckholz

Understand Rap

Laban Carrick Hill; Theodore Taylor (Illustrator)

When the Beat Was Born

Gobi; Afeni Shakur

Thru My Eyes

Angie Thomas, Angie Thomas

On The Come Up

Tiffany D. Jackson

Let Me Hear A Rhyme

Angie Thomas

On The Come Up

Clover Hope

The Motherlode

Ben Westhoff

Original Gangstas

Ebony LaDelle

Love Radio

Voletta Wallace; Faith Evans (Foreword by); Tremell McKenzie (As told to); Voletta Williams

Biggie

Ebony LaDelle

Love Radio

Jay-Z

Decoded

Jay-Z

Decoded

Hal Marcovitz

Tupac

Steve Stoute

The Tanning of America