{"title":"Music--Genres \u0026 Styles--Rap \u0026 Hip Hop","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"this-thugs-life","title":"This Thug's Life","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe first-ever insider account of the Shakur family, the iconic hip hop group T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., and the life and death Tupac Shakur - written by Mopreme Shakur, the legendary rapper's big brother and eldest son of Black liberation activist Mutulu Shakur.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMaurice. Little Mutulu. Mogie. Mocedes. 'Preme. Wycked. Mopreme Shakur has been known by many names. Fitting for a multi-hyphenate like Mo: hip hop artist and sole surviving member of T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. and Outlaw Immortalz, soldier, writer, husband and father, filmmaker, record producer, and the big brother of, and co-collaborator with, the legendary Tupac Shakur, the greatest rapper of all time. 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The former president of Def Jam South, he's collaborated with everyone from Kanye West, Ice Cube and Nas, and had many solo hits such as \"Guess Who's Back\" feat. Jay-Z and \"Smile\" feat. Tupac. But before that, he was a kid from Houston in love with rock-and-roll, listening to AC\/DC and KISS.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u2028In \u003cem\u003eDiary of a Madman\u003c\/em\u003e, Scarface shares how his world changed when he heard Run DMC for the first time; how he dropped out of school in the ninth grade and started selling crack; and how he began rapping as the new form of music made its way out of New York and across the country. It is the account of his rise to the heights of the rap world, as well as his battles with his own demons and depression. 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But Sonita wanted more.\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eSonita, \u003c\/i\u003ethe rap artist and activist shares the story of how she fled Afghanistan to pursue her dreams and evolved into a woman who is changing the world: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe shares incredible highs, like winning the song writing contest that gave her the opportunity of a lifetime, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnimaginable lows, like when the cruel Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eand how some of her family escaped, and how some were left behind.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSonita also shares photos and access to exclusive music.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor readers of \u003ci\u003eI Am Malala\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eSonita \u003c\/i\u003eteaches us to hold onto hope. 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It is a love letter for anyone who has ever dreamed of more and held onto hope that their story would be different than the ones that came before them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 006343900X\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780063439009\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Alizada, Sonita\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: HarperOne\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperOne","offers":[{"title":"HardCover (Jul 2025)","offer_id":45937589649605,"sku":"9780063439009","price":28.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780063439009.jpg?v=1772881277"},{"product_id":"tupac-shakur-the-authorized-biography","title":"Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a \u003cb\u003e\"touching, empathetic portrait\" (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003c\/b\u003e of his life and powerful legacy, fully illustrated with photos, mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and more\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eArtist, poet, actor, revolutionary, legend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated, and influential figures in modern history. Drawing on exclusive access to Tupac's private notebooks, letters, and uncensored conversations with those who loved and knew him best, this estate-authorized biography paints the fullest and most intimate picture to date of the young man who became a legend for generations to come. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eTupac Shakur, \u003c\/i\u003e author and screenwriter Staci Robinson--who knew Tupac from their shared circle of high school friends in Marin City, California, and who was entrusted by his mother, Afeni Shakur, to share his story--unravels the myths and unpacks the complexities that have shadowed Tupac's existence. Decades in the making, this book pulls back the curtain to reveal a powerful story of a life defined by politics and art--a man driven by equal parts brilliance and impulsiveness, steeped in the rich intellectual tradition of Black empowerment, and unafraid to utter raw truths about race in America. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt is a story of a mother and son bound together by a love for each other and for their people, and the relationship that endured through their darkest times. It is a political story that begins in the whirlwind of the 1960s civil rights movement and unfolds through a young artist's awakening to rage and purpose in the '90s era of Rodney King. It is a story of dizzying success and its devastating consequences. 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History is either a tool of the state or an outside screaming for freedom. \u003ci\u003eWords for My Comrades\u003c\/i\u003e is about freedom--it \u003ci\u003eis \u003c\/i\u003efreedom at work.\" --Saeed Jones, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eHow We Fight For Our Lives\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"In \u003ci\u003eWords For My Comrades\u003c\/i\u003e, Dean Van Nguyen deftly ties Tupac's brilliant career with his anti-capitalist upbringing. A richly researched biography that honors his subject's bold, deeply textured life and art.\" --Walter Thompson-Hernández, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Compton Cowboys\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBefore his murder at age twenty-five, Tupac Shakur rose to staggering artistic heights as the preeminent storyteller of the 1990s, building, in the process, one of the most iconic public personas of the last half century. He recorded no fewer than ten platinum albums, starred in major films, and became an activist and political hero known the world over. In this cultural history, journalist Van Nguyen reckons with Tupac's coming of age, fame, and cultural capital, and how the political machinations that shaped him as a boy have since buoyed his legacy as a revolutionary following the George Floyd uprisings. \u003ci\u003eWords for My Comrades\u003c\/i\u003e engages--crucially--with the influence of Tupac's mother, Afeni, whose role in the Black Panther Party and dedication to dismantling American imperialism and combating police brutality informed Tupac's art. Tupac's childhood as a son of the Panthers, coupled with the influence of his stepfather's Marxist beliefs, informed his own riveting code of ethics that helped audiences grapple with America's inherent injustices. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUsing oral histories from conversations with the people who directly witnessed Tupac's life and career, many of whom were interviewed for the first time here--from Panther elder Aaron Dixon, to music video director Stephen Ashley Blake, to friends and contemporaries of Tupac's mother--Van Nguyen demonstrates how Tupac became one of the most enduring musical legends in hip-hop history, and how intimately his name is threaded with the legacy of Black Panther politics. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eVan Nguyen reveals how Tupac and Afeni each championed the disenfranchised in distinct ways, and how their mother-son bond charts a narrative of the last fifty years of revolutionary Black American politics. \u003ci\u003eWords for My Comrades\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of how the energy of the Black political movement was subsumed by culture, and how America produced two of its most iconic, enduring revolutionaries.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0385550022\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780385550024\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Van Nguyen, Dean\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Doubleday Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Doubleday Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (May 2025)","offer_id":46080316539077,"sku":"9780385550024","price":30.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780385550024.jpg?v=1776036071"},{"product_id":"no-sense-in-wishing-essays","title":"No Sense in Wishing: Essays","description":"\u003cb\u003eA BEST BOOK OF 2025: \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e- \u003ci\u003eVulture\u003c\/i\u003e -\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"Earnest and engaging.\" --\u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"Among the most profound and dazzling debuts I've ever read.\" --Kiese Laymon, award-winning author of\u003ci\u003e Heavy: An American Memoir\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eAn essay collection from culture critic Lawrence Burney that is a personal and analytical look at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThere are moments throughout our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression, helping inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward. In \u003ci\u003eNo Sense in Wishing\u003c\/i\u003e, Lawrence Burney explores these profound interactions with incisive and energizing prose, offering us a personal and critical perspective on the people, places, music, and art that transformed him. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn a time when music is spearheading Black Americans' connection with Africans on The Continent, Burney takes trips to cover the bubbling creative scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg that inspire teary-eyed reflections of self and belonging. Seeing his mother perform as the opening act at a Gil Scott-Heron show as a child inspires an essay about parent-child relationships and how personal taste is often inherited. And a Maryland crab feast with family facilitates an assessment of how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTaking us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, \u003ci\u003eNo Sense in Wishing\u003c\/i\u003e is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney's search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, it's like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1668051850\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781668051856\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Burney, Lawrence\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Atria Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Atria Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Jul 2025)","offer_id":46080570097861,"sku":"9781668051856","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781668051856.jpg?v=1776038382"},{"product_id":"mothership-connected-the-women-of-parliament-funkadelic","title":"Mothership Connected: The Women of Parliament-Funkadelic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn oral history with the women of Parliament-Funkadelic, from forming the band to landing the mothership.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Parliament-Funkadelic is perhaps the greatest funk band ever assembled. Yet at the time of the group's induction into the Rock \u0026amp; Roll Hall of Fame, none of the women who helped create the sound and performed in P-Funk were invited to the ceremony and their contributions have been largely overlooked. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMothership Connected\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of Mallia Franklin, Lynn Mabry, Dawn Silva, Debbie Wright, and Shirley Hayden, all of whom were instrumental in making Parliament-Funkadelic, as well as the spin-off groups Parlet and the Brides of Funkenstein, into the legends they are today. Assembled by Seth Neblett, son of the \"Queen of Funk\" Mallia Franklin, and filled with the voices of funk icons like George Clinton, Sly Stone, Bootsy Collins, and the women themselves, this oral history makes clear why these \"architects\" at the \"core\" of P-Funk were both essential--and erased. From Franklin introducing Bootsy Collins to Clinton, to the Brides' top-10 hit \"Disco to Go,\" to the drugs that helped destroy the group, this book reveals the hidden lives and uncomfortable truths of life in P-Funk. More than sex, drugs, and rock and roll, \u003ci\u003eMothership Connected\u003c\/i\u003e is about Black women navigating a tumultuous era and industry to become musical pioneers. 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Age: The Music, Culture, and World de la Soul Made","description":"\u003cb\u003eFor fans of \u003ci\u003eDilla Time \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Chronicles of DOOM, a\u003c\/i\u003e culturally connected celebration of the groundbreaking hip-hop group De La Soul, and how they changed the look, sound, and feel of Black America.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMusic artists and trends come and go, but every once in a while, a moment arrives that genuinely changes everything. In 1988, De La Soul, three young men from Amityville, Long Island, did exactly that. Their always innovative work pulled inspiration from artists of the past and popularized cutting-edge music sampling techniques to blend jazz, R\u0026amp;B, and rap as they created a sound unlike any the world had heard before. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut the De La Soul experience didn't end there. These weren't just musicians--they were game-changers in so many ways. From the way they dressed, to the words they spoke, to the day-glo colors of their breakout \u003ci\u003e3 Feet and Rising\u003c\/i\u003e, De La Soul rejected convention, refused to be talked back into the box, and left the door open for everyone behind them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNow, in \u003ci\u003eLiving in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age\u003c\/i\u003e, West Virginia University history professor Austin McCoy explores how De La Soul not only defined a new era of hip-hop, but also American and Black culture at the same time. Through his eyes, ears, and well-studied recall of '80s, '90s, and 2000s America, McCoy takes us on a journey through the world this innovative musical act made. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne of the few hip-hop groups of their era to stay together long term, De La Soul lived astonishing highs and lows, from forming the Native Tongues collective to influential fights with their publishers to assert the artist's right to control their creations. And after a lifetime left out of music's digital revolution, in 2023 they finally hit streaming services just as it lost founding member David Jolicoeur too soon to see his work reach a brand-new generation of fans. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiving in a D.A.I.S.Y. 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His profound influence still resonates today, and he has been inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame, awarded the Soul Train Legend Award and given his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, Riley--with coauthor, award-winning biographer Jake Brown--lifts the curtain on his fascinating and inspiring journey with this unforgettable memoir of talent, resilience, collaboration, betrayal, and creativity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith heart and humor, Riley reflects on his beginnings as musical prodigy growing up in Harlem and the highs and lows of working with some of the biggest names in the industry. From masterminding his own acclaimed groups, such as Guy and Blackstreet, to producing groundbreaking hits such as Bobby Brown's \"My Prerogative\" and writing and producing with legends like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, and more, Riley takes us on a remarkable journey that parallels the explosion of new genres and Black influence in the contemporary music landscape. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eRemember the Times\u003c\/i\u003e also candidly illustrates the evolution of popular music through the '80s to today, taking us behind the scenes directly from the man who grew \"to define the sound and reinvigorate contemporary R\u0026amp;B and hip-hop\" (\u003ci\u003eMixdown Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, Australia).\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1668056453\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781668056455\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Riley, Teddy, Brown, Jake\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Gallery\/13a\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gallery\/13a","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Feb 2026)","offer_id":46080879132869,"sku":"9781668056455","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781668056455.jpg?v=1776041389"},{"product_id":"the-voice-in-my-head-is-god","title":"The Voice in My Head Is God","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn his most personal work yet, Grammy Award-winning rapper 2 Chainz shares the spiritual journey behind his success, offering a raw, reflective, and deeply motivational meditation on the inner voice that's guided him his whole life: God. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBefore he was 2 Chainz, he was Tauheed Epps--an only child growing up in College Park, Georgia, raised by a single mother while his father served time in prison. Though he excelled in school and earned a basketball scholarship, the streets were never far behind, and by fifteen, he had been arrested and was hustling to survive. He faced doubt and self-destruction, but even then, something told him there had to be more. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In THE VOICE IN MY HEAD IS GOD, 2 Chainz tells the story of how he walked away from the trap and found his purpose: not by fame or fear, but by faith. With his unmistakable voice and unflinching honesty, he reflects on the hardest moments of his life and the quiet revelations that shaped him. From the spiritual alarms he couldn't ignore to the mentors who showed up at the right time, he explores how his music and verses poured out when he finally listened to the voice that had been there all along. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e From hanging with Lil Wayne to getting early help from Ludacris, 2 Chainz brings us into the defining moments of his life and career while delivering a powerful message about discipline, divine timing, and self-belief. Along the way, he offers more than a memoir. He shares a way of thinking, of trusting yourself, and of listening to the voice that never steers you wrong. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Lyrical, grounded, and fiercely motivational THE VOICE IN MY HEAD IS GOD is part blueprint and all heart.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1668031159\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781668031155\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: 2. Chainz, Harriell, Derrick\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Atria\/Black Privilege Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Atria\/Black Privilege Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Mar 2026)","offer_id":46080925106373,"sku":"9781668031155","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781668031155.jpg?v=1776041716"},{"product_id":"the-autobiography-of-gucci-mane","title":"The Autobiography of Gucci Mane","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling memoir from legendary rapper Gucci Mane spares no detail in this \"cautionary tale that ends in triumph\" (\u003ci\u003eGQ\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor the first time, Gucci Mane tells his extraordinary life story in his own words. It's \"as wild, unpredictable, and fascinating as the man himself\" (\u003ci\u003eComplex\u003c\/i\u003e). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe platinum-selling trap pioneer began writing this remarkable autobiography while serving time in a federal maximum-security prison. When he was released in 2016, he emerged transformed--sober, focused, and creatively reinvigorated. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA critically acclaimed classic in hip hop literature, \u003ci\u003eThe Autobiography of Gucci Mane\u003c\/i\u003e offers raw insight into the volatile rise, fall, and rise again of one of the most influential artists in modern rap. It's a compelling story of addiction, fame, incarceration, and redemption that \"provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade...By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician\" (\u003ci\u003ePitchfork\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1501165348\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781501165344\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Mane, Gucci, Martinez-Belkin, Neil\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Sep 2018)","offer_id":46081207763141,"sku":"9781501165344","price":18.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781501165344.jpg?v=1776043969"},{"product_id":"the-tao-of-wu","title":"The Tao of Wu","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, an inspirational book for the hip-hop fan.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe RZA, founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, imparts the lessons he's learned on his journey from the Staten Island projects to international superstardom. A devout student of knowledge in every form in which he's found it, he distills here the wisdom he's acquired into seven \"pillars,\" each based on a formative event in his life--from the moment he first heard the call of hip-hop to the death of his cousin and Clan-mate, Russell Jones, aka ODB. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDelivered in RZA's unmistakable style, at once surprising, profound, and provocative, \u003ci\u003eThe Tao of Wu\u003c\/i\u003e is a spiritual memoir the world has never seen before, and will never see again. A nonfiction \u003ci\u003eSiddhartha\u003c\/i\u003e for the hip-hop generation from the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Wu-Tang Manual\u003c\/i\u003e, it will enlighten, entertain, and inspire.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1594484856\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781594484858\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: The Rza\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Riverhead Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Riverhead Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Nov 2010)","offer_id":46081491337413,"sku":"9781594484858","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781594484858.jpg?v=1776046513"},{"product_id":"dilla-time-the-life-and-afterlife-of-j-dilla-the-hip-hop-producer-who-reinvented-rhythm","title":"Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt's Dilla Time. Finally. Dilla Time is the story of the invention of a new kind of time, a new kind of sound by the most influential music producer of the last 25 years, someone you may never heard of: J. Dilla. He's revered by rappers, producers, and living legends of music-but Dilla himself never rose to mainstream fame, despite revolutionizing the way music sounds before his untimely death at the age of 32.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1250862973\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781250862976\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Charnas, Dan\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Picador USA\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Picador USA","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jan 2023)","offer_id":46081545765061,"sku":"9781250862976","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781250862976.jpg?v=1776047215"},{"product_id":"vibrate-higher-a-rap-story","title":"Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom one of the most lyrically gifted and socially conscious rappers of the past twenty years, \u003ci\u003eVibrate Higher\u003c\/i\u003e is a firsthand account of hip-hop as a political force\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBefore Talib Kweli became a world-renowned hip-hop artist, he was a Brooklyn kid who liked to cut class, spit rhymes, and wander the streets of Greenwich Village with a motley crew of artists, rappers, and DJs who found hip-hop more inspiring than their textbooks (much to the chagrin of the educator parents who had given their son an Afrocentric name in hope of instilling in him a more traditional sense of pride and purpose). 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These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully (with and without botox), what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons (Hi Mumm-ra!), gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s New York City to present-day Baltimore. In these pages, Jean captures magic in a bottle, distilling the feeling of hanging out with your smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest best friend.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1250857546\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781250857545\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Grae, Jean\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Flatiron Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Flatiron Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Mar 2026)","offer_id":46291833061573,"sku":"9781250857545","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781250857545.jpg?v=1780113151"},{"product_id":"god-save-the-queens-the-essential-history-of-women-in-hip-hop","title":"God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn NPR Best Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Without God Save the Queens, it is possible that the contributions of dozens of important female hip-hop artists who have sold tens of millions of albums, starred in monumental films, and influenced the direction of the culture would continue to go unrecognized.\" --AllHipHop.com\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCan't Stop Won't Stop meets Girls to the Front in this essential and long overdue history of hip-hop's female pioneers and its enduring stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery history of hip-hop previously published, from Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop to Shea Serrano's The Rap Yearbook, focuses primarily on men, glaringly omitting a thorough and respectful examination of the presence and contribution of the genre's female artists. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor far too long, women in hip-hop have been relegated to the shadows, viewed as the designated \"First Lady\" thrown a contract, a pawn in some beef, or even worse. But as Kathy Iandoli makes clear, the reality is very different. Today, hip-hop is dominated by successful women such as Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, yet there are scores of female artists whose influence continues to resonate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGod Save the Queens pays tribute to the women of hip-hop--from the early work of Roxanne Shante, to hitmakers like Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot, to the superstars of today. Exploring issues of gender, money, sexuality, violence, body image, feuds, objectification and more, God Save the Queens is an important and monumental work of music journalism that at last gives these influential female artists the respect they have long deserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough meticulous research and powerful new interviews, \u003ci\u003eGod Save the Queens\u003c\/i\u003e rewrites the story of hip-hop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFemale Pioneers: \u003c\/b\u003e Go back to the Bronx in the '70s and meet the founding mothers of hip-hop, from Cindy Campbell to the Mercedes Ladies, who were foundational to the culture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Roxanne Wars: \u003c\/b\u003e Unpack the explosive impact of Roxanne Shante's \"Roxanne's Revenge\" and the chain reaction of answer records that proved a woman's voice could dominate the airwaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSocial Commentary: \u003c\/b\u003e Explore how artists from Salt-N-Pepa to Lauryn Hill tackled issues of sexuality, gender, and social justice, using their platform to speak truth to power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Modern Queens: \u003c\/b\u003e Examine the legacies of today's superstars, from the rivalries and reigns of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B to the ongoing fight for respect in a multi-billion dollar industry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0062878514\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780062878519\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Iandoli, Kathy\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Dey Street Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dey Street Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Nov 2020)","offer_id":46291853279429,"sku":"9780062878519","price":17.09,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780062878519.jpg?v=1780113182"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.inveni.store\/collections\/music-genres-styles-rap-hip-hop.oembed","provider":"Inveni","version":"1.0","type":"link"}