A Taste of Power
Posted March 27, 2006 2:55 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Coming in at 450 pages, Brown's book is a quick, yet powerful read about the Black Panther Party from and insider's perspective. Read article
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Posted August 8, 2008 2:03 am (about 581 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua If you’re familiar with Hosseini’s first book The Kite Runner, or the movie of the same name, you already know what to expect; living in Afghanistan is hard. Someone asked me what’s one thing that stood out to me about this book and I simply told her, “I’m glad I wasn’t born a female in Afghanistan.” Read article
All Music Guide to Hip Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop
Posted March 27, 2006 11:12 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua The amount of information in here is overwhelming, but it's a handy reference for sure. Read article
All You Need to Know About Rappin'
Posted March 27, 2006 3:08 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua This is more of a collector's item than an account of how to be down with hip hop (not that reading a book will necessarily do the trick!) Read article
Art of Emcee-ing, The
Posted August 23, 2006 4:42 pm (about 1297 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua An easy to follow stop by step guide for the aspiring hip-hop artist. Read article
Audacity of Hope
Posted December 29, 2008 2:10 am (about 438 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua There isn’t anything particularly new here if you keep up with the news and have watched a fair number of his interviews. Having said that, it’s not a bad read, just not particularly insightful in a world of 24/7 media and seemingly limitless info on the internet. Read article
Bad Boy: The Influence of Sean Puffy Combs on the Music Industry
Posted March 12, 2006 11:43 am (about 1461 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Already known for his blistering attacks against hip hop's material excesses and gangster/thug element, as well as the music industry that thrives on these topics, it should come as no surprise that Ro's account of Bad Boy Records' mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is critical, to say the least. Read article
Beastie Boys: Rhyming and Stealing
Posted April 12, 2006 10:11 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Biography. Read article
Boogaloo: The Quintessence of American Popular Music
Posted March 27, 2006 11:08 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua I haven't read this book, but skimming through it, Kempton gives a critical analysis of African-American popular music, from its musical sensibilities to the business side of things. The usuals are here: Motown, James Brown, Sam Cook, etc. More contemporary figures include KRS-One, Tupac, Dr. Dre, and George Clinton. It's a dense read, but full of good information. Read article
Chosen By Fate: My Life Inside Death Row Records
Posted March 26, 2006 2:48 am (about 1447 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Snoop's former bodyguard tells his tale of rolling with the "Untouchable" Death Row, giving his perspective on the murder charges against himself and Snoop. Read article
Classic Material: The Hip Hop Album Guide
Posted April 12, 2006 9:25 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review coming soon! Read article
Conscious Women Rock The Page
Posted July 15, 2008 4:53 pm (about 605 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua While I haven’t come across many books that deal directly with hip hop and education most of the ones I’m familiar with are pretty good. Most recently, I got my hands on Conscious Women Rock the Page, a collection of lesson plans and activities for grades 6-12 exploring themes of social justice, including racism, sexism, sexual orientation, and class. Read article
Dangerous Times, The
Posted July 5, 2006 11:21 am (about 1346 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Cleveland drug dealer finds redemption. Read article
Drive-By
Posted July 31, 2007 12:04 am (about 955 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua In-depth look at the conditions that lead to the death of an Oakland teenager at the hands of his peers. Read article
Dying Ground, The: A Hip Hop Noir Novel
Posted April 12, 2006 9:21 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Set in Oakland, CA in 1989, this book revolves around Maceo Redfield, a former star high school athlete, who struggles to maintain the straight and narrow path and not fall to the temptations of the streets. Read article
Dying Ground, The: A Hip Hop Noir Novel
Posted March 26, 2006 3:33 am (about 1447 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Set in Oakland, CA in 1989, this book revolves around Maceo Redfield, a former star high school athlete who struggles to maintain the straight and narrow path and not fall to the temptations of the streets. Read article
Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism!
Posted March 26, 2006 3:58 am (about 1447 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua The second book by Ego Trip's motely crew of hip-hop malcontents will either deeply offend you or have you laughing out loud as they take an irreverent, humerous look at race relations in the U.S. and common stereotypes. Read article
Ego Trip's Book of Hip Hop Lists
Posted March 26, 2006 3:45 am (about 1447 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A must have for true hip-hop fans. Read article
Eminem: Angry Blonde
Posted March 26, 2006 4:06 am (about 1447 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua There's not much here except for pictures and lyrics, as penned by Em himself. Read article
Fight The Power: Rap, Race, and Reality
Posted March 27, 2006 2:43 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Public Enemy's front man gives his opinion on everything from affirmative action to the best MCs of all time. Read article
From Totems to Hip Hop: Poetry Across the Americas, 1900-2002
Posted March 27, 2006 10:41 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Read article
Funk: The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One
Posted March 27, 2006 11:22 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Vincent argues that his book is merely an effort to garner interest in funk, not be the end all explanation. He’s certainly done that. Read article
Gangsta Rap
Posted January 21, 2007 2:46 am (about 1146 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Read the review! Read article
Gangsta: Merchandising Rhymes of Violence
Posted March 27, 2006 11:41 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Ro lends a critical, if not disgusted, look at the music known as “gangsta rap.” Read article
Gunshots in My Cook-Up: Bits and Bites From a Caribbean Life
Posted March 27, 2006 11:57 pm (about 1445 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua In spite of high expectations and my best efforts, I finished this book with mixed feelings. Read article
Haunting of Hip Hop, The
Posted July 5, 2006 11:22 am (about 1346 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A novel connecting contemporary hip hop with the last days of pre-colonial Africa. Read article
Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records
Posted March 28, 2006 11:49 pm (about 1444 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A less than flattering look at one of the most influential record labels in music history. Read article
Hip Hop America
Posted March 28, 2006 11:57 pm (about 1444 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua George has been active in the hip-hop community for more than twenty years and it shows in his writing. Read article
Hip Hop and Rap
Posted April 12, 2006 9:40 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Complete lyrics to 175 songs. Read article
Hip Hop Tried 2 Kill Me
Posted November 16, 2008 3:57 am (about 481 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Quite frankly, I’m pretty burnt out on “hip-hop literature” and between the title, the cover art, and the description on the back, I was expecting another clichéd tale from the ‘hood. Well, some of that is here, but it’s worth peeling back the layers as Fleetwood has some important things to say in his true account of his efforts to carve out a career in the field of hip hop. Included are many first-hand experiences addressing traps to avoid and tips on being successful at the independent level. Read article
Hip Hoptionary
Posted March 31, 2006 2:32 pm (about 1442 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A book that attempts to document hip-hop slang? I have to admit, I was skeptical. Read article
Hip-Hop Poetry and the Classics for the Classroom
Posted March 31, 2006 2:38 pm (about 1442 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Dang. This is what I get for being unfocused. I had this great plan to do a book of hip-hop lesson plans that met California standards, but these guys beat me to it. I can't front though; they did an excellent job. Read article
Holler If You Hear Me: Searching For Tupac
Posted March 31, 2006 2:53 pm (about 1442 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua An excellent book that examines the legacy of the late Tupac Shakur. Read article
How To Rent-A-Negro
Posted March 22, 2009 4:01 pm (about 355 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua This gem was passed to me by my friend Gloria while I was supposed to be relaxing down in Mobile, AL a couple of years ago. Instead of getting me to relax, it actually got my brain working harder, which was the author’s point. The basic premise of the book is that Black folks are sick and tired of White people objectifying them and taking them for granted. Since these interactions are inevitable, African Americans should be compensated for having to put up with this behavior and the book is full of faux invoices and advice for both the renters and rentees. Need an African American companion so you don’t look racist? Want to make money answering questions about poverty, gangs, and gospel music? Then this book is for you! Read article
I Got Thunder: Black Woman Songwriters and Their Craft
Posted December 29, 2008 2:12 am (about 438 days ago)
By Demetrie Broxton An insightful review of a book highlighting interviews with prominent singers and songwriters, including Abbey Lincoln, Angelique Kidjo, Brenda Russell, Chaka Khan, Dianne Reeves, Dionne Warwick, Miriam Makeba, Narissa Bond, Nina Simone, Nona Hendryx, Oleta Adams, Pamela Means, Shemekia Copeland, Shirley Caesar, Tokunbo Akinro, Toshi Reagon, and Tramaine Hawkins. Read article
Ice Cube: Attitude
Posted March 31, 2006 3:00 pm (about 1442 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Information-wise, there are some useful things here as McIver brings together interviews and articles from numerous magazines and books without actually speaking to Ice Cube himself. Read article
Inner City Miracle
Posted May 11, 2008 7:40 pm (about 670 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Autobiography of TV's Judge Greg Mathis. Read article
Journal of Hip Hop
Posted July 17, 2006 1:51 pm (about 1334 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Collection of hip-hop writings and activities for educators and music fans. Read article
King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run DMC
Posted March 31, 2006 9:25 pm (about 1441 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Like msot artist's autobiographies, D doesn't delve the really juicy details about what happened behind the scenes in his music career, yet this is still an insightful read. Read article
La Maravilla
Posted March 31, 2006 9:30 pm (about 1441 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua I’ve been a fan of Véa’s since picking up his book When God’s Go Begging back in 1998. Read article
Last King, The
Posted April 1, 2006 3:12 am (about 1441 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Let me not beat around the bush with this one. While I was a big fan of this book's predecessor, The Dying Ground, the follow up just wasn't working for me. Read article
Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God
Posted April 1, 2006 3:19 am (about 1441 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua In spite of the title and the fact that Simmons is a key figure responsible for hip-hop’s growth, this book is rather bland. Read article
Locke 1928
Posted April 6, 2008 2:15 am (about 705 days ago)
By Monica Zarazua I remember walking in Oakland, CA during the 2006 May Day protests against anti-immigration legislation. Never before had I seen so many Latino people waving the U.S. flag. In that moment I realized that the traditional American symbols don’t define us. We define the symbols and places in which we live. The protest was a moment that shifted my perspective from being one of, “Only old U.S. vets wave the flag” to “This country should be proud to see such individuals and families carrying its flag”.
Reading Ryan’s book reemphasized the lesson I learned in May 2006. Not because the characters are exceptionally heroic but because their story is unique and specific to California in the early 1900s. Ryan is able to portray the depths to which the characters need one another, even as they seek self –determination. While her book is not politically motivated it is a contribution to the ever involving understanding of our culture and history. Read article
Lyrical Swords: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix
Posted August 6, 2006 12:55 am (about 1314 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Read article
Makin' It: The Hip-Hop Guide to True Survival
Posted April 12, 2006 9:47 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua When it comes to education, teachers can be divided into to broad camps: those who teach students and those who teach subjects. Read article
Move the Crowd:Voices and Faces of the Hip Hop Nation
Posted April 12, 2006 12:36 pm (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Click here to see the review. Read article
Negroes With Guns
Posted April 12, 2006 8:42 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua I dug this book so much that I've used it to teach my high school Ethnic Studies classes. Read article
No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley
Posted April 12, 2006 9:00 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua There's no denying the tremendous impact that Bob Marley has had on music, politics, and popular culture. But while many deify him, it's no secret that he's just as flawed as many other idols, if not more. Read article
One Love, One Heart
Posted April 12, 2006 9:52 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua How can one talk about hip hop and not talk about reggae? If you know the history of hip hop, you know about it's strong Caribbean roots. Read article
Ordinary Me: From Survival to Success
Posted July 2, 2006 10:58 pm (about 1348 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Motivational book. Read article
Phat Beats, Dope Rhymes: Hip Hop Down Under Comin' Upper
Posted April 12, 2006 9:31 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Australian hip hop. Read article
Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones
Posted March 27, 2006 10:34 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Beyond starting Vibe and the production work of his son, QDIII, few in the hip hop world appreciate the influence of Jones on hip hop. Read article
Race Rules: Navigating the Color Line; Michael Eric Dyson
Posted March 27, 2006 10:28 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Dr. Dyson writes an important book on why race continues to matter in this country, whether we like it or not. He draws upon the contemporary issues of the period, which at the time of this book included The Million Man March and the O.J. Simpson trial. Read article
Rap on Rap: Straight-Up Talk on Hiphop Culture
Posted April 12, 2006 11:13 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A mix of essays and writings by everyone from Joan Morgan to Luther Campbell to Rev. Calvin Butts. Read article
Rap: This Game of Exposure
Posted April 12, 2006 10:06 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Promoting your rap record/artist. Read article
Reflecting Black
Posted March 27, 2006 9:37 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Dyson connects the academic world with popular culture and the streets in this collection of his writings. Read article
Rhythm and Business: The Political Economy of Black Music
Posted March 27, 2006 10:05 am (about 1446 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Kelly has compiled a must-have collection of writings for anyone interested in social justice, economic empowerment, or making it in the music business. Contributors include Chuck D, Courtney Love, the NAACP, author Reebee Garofalo, and Artemis Records’ label head, Danny Goldberg. Read article
Rough Mix
Posted April 12, 2006 11:20 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua While this book is not directly related to hip hop, it could be useful for anyone interested in the music industry. Read article
Ruminations
Posted April 12, 2006 9:05 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua I've heard nothing but rave reviews about this one, but it isn't in my budget yet! Comes with a CD. Read article
Small Island
Posted November 28, 2009 3:58 pm (about 104 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Small Island is a complex, multi-layered book addressing a number of if issues such as race, gender, religion, and identity in general, set to the background of World War-II era England and Jamaica. Read article
Spook Who Sat By the Door, The
Posted March 12, 2006 11:31 am (about 1461 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua As I skimmed my bookshelf the other day, I couldn't believe that I left this one off of the reading list! Read article
Street Soldier
Posted April 12, 2006 8:49 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua The term "soldier" is about as common in contemporary hip hop the word thug, n*gga, or b*tch, yet none of these yahoos can tell you what they're fighting for. Read article
Street Talk: Da Official Guide to Hip Hop & Urban Slanguage
Posted April 12, 2006 8:31 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Although it's been a minute since I've posted reviews, I still get a fair amount of requests to check out someone's work. Unfortunately, most of it is mediocre or flat out bad. However, some gems also come in, including this book by Randy "Moe Deezy" Kearse out of New York. Read article
Tengo Casi 500 Anos: Africa’s Legacy in Mexico, Central and South America
Posted July 5, 2009 1:38 pm (about 250 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua It’s probably safe to say that most people think of Africa’s legacy in the Americas as primarily restricted to the United States and Brazil. As this book shows, this is far from the case. Read article
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Posted December 1, 2008 12:01 am (about 466 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Hurston addresses common topics such as racism and sexism, but also class and skin color differences within the African American community. While in modern times these issues are more widely discussed, the original printing was in 1937, from a woman no less. Read article
Twenty-Five Chickens and a Pig for a Bride
Posted December 29, 2008 2:17 am (about 438 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua To merely describe Twenty-Five Chickens as a history of Filipinos in California’s Bay Areas does an incredible disservice to an extraordinary woman’s tale of tracing her families roots in the Philippines and American south, to her present-day community activism. Although Filipino Americans are the heart of the story, the diversity of the Bay comes out, with everyone from Mexican farm workers to leaders in the gay rights movement playing a role in her life. Read article
Twilight
Posted March 22, 2009 3:49 pm (about 355 days ago)
By Brenda Garcia Oakland Unity High School 9th Grader reviews one of her favorite books about love in the supernatural world. Read article
Understanding the Connections Between Black and Aboriginal Peoples
Posted April 12, 2006 12:33 pm (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua In this fast, easy read Dub explores the fascinating links between Africans and Indigenous people over the centuries. Read article
Voices in the Mirror
Posted April 12, 2006 8:37 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua While Parks is known as a documentarian, author, filmmaker, and unparalleled photographer, his own life is as interesting as any of his subjects. Read article
Westside: Young Men & Hip Hop in L.A.
Posted April 12, 2006 11:32 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua The London-based Shaw writes about his encounters with various young Black males, trying to make a career in the L.A. hip-hop scene. Read article
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost
Posted April 12, 2006 11:36 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A definite must-read. Moore speaks as a young woman of the hip-hop generation and her perspective on everything from sexism, to "strong Black Women," to "chickenhead envy." Read article
White Boy Shuffle; The
Posted April 12, 2006 11:45 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Without a doubt, Beatty is one of the premiere contemporary wordsmiths. Read article
Who Shot Ya? Three Decades of Hip Hop Photography
Posted April 12, 2006 12:15 pm (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua At many levels, this is an important book for anyone interested in youth culture, much less hip hop. Read article
Why I Love Black Women
Posted April 12, 2006 10:26 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua OK, so this book isn't a "hip-hop book." Yet since hip hop is rooted in the Black community and Dyson is one of hip hop's most critical analysts and scholars, it would be a crime to leave this book off this list. Read article
Why White Kids Love Hip Hop
Posted April 12, 2006 9:12 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Due in stores in early January 2005 by the former Executive Editor of The Source magazine. Review forthcoming! Read article
Yes Yes Y'all
Posted April 12, 2006 10:34 am (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua This is one of the few books to focus on hip hop's real old school of the '70s and early '80s. Read article
Yo' Mama's Disfunktional!: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America
Posted April 12, 2006 12:02 pm (about 1430 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Don't let the title fool you, this is some serious reading. Kelley asks what exactly does it mean to be a part of the "underclass" or ghetto? Read article
