A Rough Trade and Clash Book of the Year'Excellent, detailed [. . .] Hip-hop writer SH Fernando Jr benefits from an insider's understanding of the milieu and provides generous context.' Kitty Empire, ObserverOn December 31, 2020, the world was shocked to learn about the death of hip-hop legend MF DOOM. Born in London and raised in the suburban enclave of Long Beach, New York, Daniel Dumile Jr.'s love of cartoons and comic books would soon turn him into one of hip-hop's most enigmatic, prolific, and influential figures.The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast recounts the rise, fall, redemption, and untimely demise of MF DOOM. Broken down into five sections: The Man, The Myth, The Mask, The Music, and The Legend, journalist S. H. Fernando chronicles the life of Daniel Dumile Jr., beginning in the house he grew up in in Long Beach, NY, through to the mysterious, masked icon that he was to become. Centring the music, Fernando deftly lays out the history of east-coast rap against DOOM's life story and dissects the personas, projects, tracks, and lyrics that led to his immortality.Including exclusive interviews with those who worked closely with him, the book provides an unknown, intimate, behind the scenes look into the life of MF DOOM, a supervillain on stage and hero to those who paid attention. Read more

Master the Art of Hip-Hop Drumming and Play with Authentic GrooveDo your hip-hop grooves sound stiff and mechanical? Struggling to capture the feel of Dilla Time and unquantized beats? Want to make your acoustic drumming sound like an MPC or 808?The Essentials of Hip-Hop Drumming is the ultimate resource for drummers looking to develop an authentic hip-hop feel. Covering everything from classic Boom Bap to modern Trap and Drill, this book blends history, technique and creativity to help you master the essential grooves that define hip-hop.A Deep Dive into Hip-Hop’s Rhythmic FoundationsHip-hop drumming is unique, merging the precision of programmed beats with the organic feel of live performance. This book explores hip-hop’s evolution, from its origins in 1970s Bronx block parties to the production techniques of legends like J Dilla, DJ Premier, and Questlove. Through historical insights and hands-on exercises, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how groove, timing, and swing shape hip-hop.What You’ll Learn:Master Hip-Hop’s Key Subgenres. Explore Boom Bap, New Jack Swing, Trap, and Drill, each with a detailed breakdown of their defining grooves.Develop a Natural Hip-Hop Feel. Learn how to lock into a deep pocket and play with rhythmic flexibility, including techniques like Dilla Time.Adapt Drum Machine Grooves for Live Drumming. Discover how to replicate iconic Roland TR-808 and Akai MPC grooves on an acoustic kit.Expand Your Groove Vocabulary. Improve hi-hat articulation, ghost note control, and syncopation to create expressive, dynamic beats.Play with DJs and Producers. Learn how to improvise, adapt to different hip-hop settings, and bridge the gap between live drumming and programmed beats.Create Your Own Hip-Hop Grooves. Use sampling concepts, layering, and rhythmic displacement to craft original, head-nodding beats.A Practical, Hands-On ApproachWith step-by-step exercises, groove studies, and expert insights, The Essentials of Hip-Hop Drumming provides a structured yet flexible learning path. Whether you’re a seasoned drummer expanding your stylistic range or a newcomer eager to explore hip-hop’s rhythmic language, this book equips you with the tools to play hip-hop with confidence and authenticity.Why This Book?Over 100 live-recorded exercises and examplesLearn from real hip-hop drummers and producersBreak down complex grooves into simple, playable patternsDevelop your own unique hip-hop drumming styleBridge the gap between digital production and live performanceWith a perfect balance of history, grooves, technique, exercises, and creative exploration, The Essentials of Hip-Hop Drumming is an essential addition to any drummer’s library.Buy it now and take your hip-hop drumming to the next level! Read more

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE 48 LAWS OF POWER 'The hip-hop entrepreneur book' Independent 'My favourite book' Tinchy Stryder 'a rich mine of ideas and information' Scotland on Sunday The ultimate hustle is to move freely between the street and corporate worlds, to find your flow and never stay locked in the same position. This is a manifesto for how to operate in the twenty-first century, where everything has been turned on its head. Building on the runaway success of Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power (almost five million copies sold), the 'modern Machiavelli' teams up with rapper 50 Cent to show how the power game of success can be played to your advantage. Drawing on the lore of gangsters, hustlers, and hip-hop artists, as well as 50 Cent's business and artistic dealings, the authors present the 'Laws of 50', revealing how to become a master strategist and supreme realist. Success comes from seeking an advantage in each and every encounter, and The 50th Law offers indispensable advice on how to win in business - and in life. Read more

It was never easy for Professor Green. Born into a tough Hackney estate and raised by his grandmother, the rapper was always learning the hard way - whether at school, on the streets of east London or on stage during impromptu freestyle battles. Indeed life and music have always been intertwined for the young rapper, but it wasn't until he was 24 that the two were brought into focus by the suicide of his father -and his emotions, ever since, have been reflected in the raw and often passionate lines of his lyrics. In this wonderful autobiography, Professor Green - a.k.a. Stephen Manderson - reflects on his life so far and how his upbringing and encounters - both good and bad - shaped the person and musician he is today. Passionate, raw and totally open, Lucky is the story of a boy's journey, from life close to the streets, all the while working towards becoming a successful musician, achieving that dream and eventually gaining that success, only to realise it wouldn't quite solve all of his problems...Lucky is accompanied by the exclusive Mix Tape app, which takes you closer to Professor Green and his story. With exclusive digital content for readers to enjoy, this is a rare insight into one of the most exciting and controversial musicians working in music today. Read more

A stunning collection of poems from one of the most revered rap artists in the world, Tupac Shakur, now the subject of the major motion picture, All Eyez On Me. His talent was unbounded, a raw force that commanded attention and respect.His death was tragic – a violent homage to the power of his voice. His legacy is indomitable – remaining vibrant and alive. Here now, are Tupac Shukar’s most honest and intimate thoughts conveyed through the pure art of poetry – a mirror into his enigmatic life and its many contradictions. Written in his own hand at the age of nineteen, they embrace his spirit, his energy and his ultimate message of hope. These poems, which Tupac wrote from the heart, will encourage people to take the first steps necessary to see his literary importance, as well as have us acknowledge the life struggles of black men.  There is no better way to get inside the mind of an artist than to examine his artistic expressions: sharing his sensitivity, insight, revolutionary mind, fears, passions, and sense of humour, Tupac's stature and recognition as a rapper is clear and unequivocal. THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE now also confirms his place amongst the best writers and poets of his generation.    Read more

Hamilton presents vocal selections from the critically acclaimed musical about Alexander Hamilton. The show debuted on Broadway in August 2015 to unprecedented advanced box office sales and has already become one of the most successful Broadway musicals ever. This collection features 17 songs in piano/vocal format from the music penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Already a winner of 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy and a Pulitzer Prize, Sir Cameron Macintosh's production opened in London's West End in December 2017.Contents:Alexander Hamilton Burn Dear Theodosia Helpless History Has Its Eyes On You Hurricane It's Quiet Uptown My Shot One Last Time The Room Where It Happens Satisfied The Schuyler Sisters That Would Be Enough Wait For It Washington On Your Side What'd I Miss You'll Be Back Read more

Deeping It shines a critical light on UK drill and its fraught relationship with the British legal system. Intervening on current discourse steeped in anti-Blackness and moral panic, this Inkling ‘deeps’ how the criminalisation of UK drill cannot be disentangled from histories, technologies, and realities of colonialism, consumerism and more. Read more

The Rap Year Book takes readers on a journey that begins in 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap as a genre became recognised as part of music’s landscape and comes right up to the present. Shea Serrano deftly pays homage to the most important song of each year. Serrano also examines the most important moments that surround the history and culture of rap music–from artists’ backgrounds, to issues of race and safety, to the rise of hip-hop and the struggles among its major players–both personal and professional. Covering East Coast and West Coast, famous rapper feuds, chart toppers and show stoppers, The Rap Year Book takes an in-depth look at the last thirty-five years of the most influential genre of music to come out of the last generation. Complete with quizzes, infographics, lyric maps, hilarious and informative footnotes, portraits of the artists, and the occasional rebuttal essay by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is both a narrative and illustrated guide to some of the most iconic and influential songs ever created under the umbrella of rap music. Serrano cites a variety of sources to form his arguments including biographies, magazines and documentaries, as well as his own experiences growing up at a time when hip-hop was becoming a prevalent force in the music industry. With its all-encompassing look at the ups and downs of rap music, and the landmark songs that are its tent-poles, this book will be perfect for anyone who is a fan of the genre. Read more

The ultimate listening party guide, Booze and Vinyl shows you how to set the mood for 70 great records from the 1950s through the 2000s.From modern craft cocktails to old standbys, prepare to shake, stir, and just plain pour your way through some of the best wax ever pressed. Wickedly designed and featuring photography throughout, Booze & Vinyl is organized by mood, from Rock to Chill, Dance, and Seduce. Each entry has liner notes that underscore the album's musical highlights and accompanying "Side A" and "Side B" cocktail recipes that complement the music's mood, imagery in the lyrics, or connect the drink to the artist. This is your guide to a rich listening session for one, two, or more.Among the 70 featured albums are: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club, Purple Rain, Sticky Fingers, Born To Run, License to Ill, Appetite for Destruction, Thriller, Like a Virgin, Low End Theory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Hotel California, Buena Vista Social Club, Back to Black, Pet Sounds, Vampire Weekend, and many more Read more

The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerThe Instant #1 New York Times BestsellerPRAISE FOR WILL'The best memoir I ever read' Oprah Winfrey'If you read one book this year, make it this one' Jay Shetty'Incredible' Idris Elba'The book is awesome. So candid and considered...fascinating' Chris Evans'A triumph...really inspiring, so well written, vulnerable and deep. I highly recommend it' Mindy Kaling'It's fantastic...very moving' Zoe Ball'Incredibly honest...inspiring' Greg James'A wild ride' New York Times'Raw, comedic, inspirational' GQOne of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.Will Smith's transformation from a fearful child in a tense West Philadelphia home to one of the biggest rap stars of his era and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, with a string of box office successes that will likely never be broken, is an epic tale of inner transformation and outer triumph, and Will tells it astonishingly well. But it's only half the story. Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over. This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one exceptional man mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.'Bracingly honest, vivid and compelling ... how an average talent became the biggest movie star in the world' The Times'The Hollywood star's autobiography is full of indiscretions, drug-fuelled escapades and terrible parenting. Who could ask for more?' Telegraph'It's not every day a Hollywood A-lister like Will Smith writes his life story - and there are certainly some eye-popping revelations' Sun'Candid ... digs into the life events which fine-tuned Smith's weapons-grade charisma and steely determination' Observer'I absolutely loved it...no holds barred...I felt as if Will Smith was talking to me. It's a testament to him and to his family' Lorraine Kelly Read more

**WINNER OF THE NME BEST BOOK AWARD**'This book is going to try and get as close as possible to the full story of what informed the noise of The Streets. Obviously that's something I should be fairly well-qualified to know about, and I'm going to be as honest as the publisher's lawyers will allow.'With the 2001 release of The Streets' debut single 'Has It Come To This?' the landscape of British popular music changed forever. No longer did homegrown rappers have to anxiously defer to transatlantic influences. Mike Skinner's witty, self-deprecating sagas of late-night kebab shops and skunk-fuelled Playstation sessions showed how much you could achieve simply by speaking in your own voice.In this thoroughly modern memoir, the man the Guardian once dubbed 'half Dostoevsky . . . half Samuel Pepys' tells a freewheeling, funny and fearlessly honest tale of Birmingham and London, ecstasy and epilepsy, Twitter-fear and Spectrum joysticks, spread-betting and growing up. He writes of his musical inspirations, role models and rivals, the craft of songwriting and reflects on the successes and failures of the decade-long journey of The Streets. Read more

20 years of life.27,000 tweets.171 pages of sympathy for the devil. Read more

Back in the Days documents the emerging Hip Hop scene from 1980-1989-before it became what is today's multi-million-dollar multinational industry. Back in the days, gangs would battle not with guns, but by breakdancing. Back in the days, the streets-not corporate planning-set the standards for style. Back in the days, Jamel Shabazz was on the scene, photographing everyday people hangin' in Harlem, kickin' it in Queens, and cold chillin' in Brooklyn. Street styling with an attitude not seen in fashion for another twenty years to come, Shabazz's subjects strike poses that put supermodels to shame-showing off Kangol caps and Gazelle glasses, shell-top Adidas and suede Pumas with fat laces, shearling coats and leather jackets, gold rope chains, door-knocker earrings, name belts, boom boxes, and other designer finery. For anyone who wants to know what "keepin' it real" means, Back in the Days is the book of your dreams. Read more

Nick Hasted's ground-breaking book traces Marshall Mathers' rise to fame from the schools and workplaces of his native Detroit to global superstardom. Also laid bare are Eminem's relationships with his much-hated mother, his teenage soul-mate Kim Scott, producer Dr. Dre and The Bass Brothers who guided and inspired him from the age of fourteen.This new edition comes right up to date, charting Eminem's period of seclusion following the death of his fellow rapper and close friend Proof, who was shot dead in 2006, his battle with addiction to painkillers and finally analysing the huge success of the albums spawned by these events, Relapse and Recovery. Read more

Dive into the extraordinary life of Tupac Shakur, one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history. This comprehensive fact book offers over 100 fascinating insights into Tupac’s early life, his meteoric rise in the music industry, his infamous feud with The Notorious B.I.G., and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his untimely death. Read more

ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S BEST BOOKS OF 2017Who better to tell the story of the gentrification of a musical genre than the man who started out as Jungle's most streetwise ambassador and went on to collect an MBE from Buckingham Palace? But Goldie's uncensored, hard-hitting memoir is far more than just the story of the house-training of drum 'n' bass. As one of Britain's most influential DJs, producers, promoters, and record-label owners - whose contributions to the UK rave scene in the 1990s defined the genres jungle and urban rave, Goldie is an iconic figure. Hugely addictive, this gonzo memoir is a vertiginous thrill-ride from the darkest depths of the West Midlands care-home system to the snowiest uplands of coke-crazed international celebrity. It is an explosive story of abuse, revenge, graffiti, gold teeth, sawn-off shotguns, car crashes, hot yoga, absent fatherhood, and redemption through reality TV. Read more

A must-read for old-school hip-hop heads and burgeoning fans alikeTime'Hip Hip is not History, it's Our story. Brilliant book'Craig Charles'Hip-Hop Is History melds a detailed chronological retelling of the genre's story with occasionally hair-raising memoir 'Guardian'Sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop's evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre's turning point... an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved Publishers WeeklyWhen hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn't expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award-winning musician, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop's defining acts (the Roots), and the genre's unofficial in-house historian. In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skilfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits-and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopaedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant. Hip-hop is history, and also his history.'A must-read for music lovers, cultural history buffs, and hip-hop fans... Questlove's illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert'Booklist'A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form'Kirkus ReviewsThe musician and Oscar-winning director traces the first 50 years of hip-hop... Questlove pairs the history of hip-hop with a personal reflection on how the genre shaped his identity during his childhood in PhiladelphiaThe Week Read more

A glimpse at the REAL Slim Shady and his music. Rap superstar Eminem’s uncensored lyrics are offered here to the reader complete with personal commentary on each controversial song.Angry Blonde is the book that all Eminem fans have been waiting for, including an introduction by Eminem himself and fifty unpublished photos.The book sheds light on the hugely controversial persona of Eminem, whilst discussing his songs and their relevance to him. Much controversy has surrounded the release of Eminem’s latest album Marshall Mathers, and now he wants to set the record straight. Featuring all the lyrics to his solo hits and some from his guest appearances, Angry Blonde gives us a no-hold barred look into the mind of hip-hop’s latest genius.Eminem has become the living embodiment of rebel youth in the USA. The Slim Shady LP released in 1999 went on to sell over 4 million copies world-wide, spawning hits such as ‘Guilty Conscience’ and the anthemic ‘My Name Is’. Filled with songs that addressed everything from rape and drugs to murder, it’s not surprising that the Grammy Award-winning album failed to find favour with the moral majority.The release of The Marshall Mathers LP this year sold a record-breaking million copies in it’s first week of release. By August 2000, Eminem had already spent two months at the top of the US Billboard charts, with album sales reaching over 5 million. No longer the underdog, the blue-eyed bad boy of hip-hop has become the biggest thing on planet rap this year. Read more

The ultimate backstage pass: a photographic inside look at the making of the pioneering hip hop documentary Rhyme & ReasonIn the mid-1990s, documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer embarked on a three-year odyssey to create a realistic portrait of hip hop, interviewing over 80 artists. Spirer captured a seminal moment as the culture balanced on the cusp of the mainstream. As Ice-T comments in the introduction to the book, "Rhyme & Reason is one of the few films that was there to document us before hip hop truly exploded." While filming, Spirer took stills using a medium-format Rolleiflex camera. These photographs form The Book of Rhyme & Reason. Spirer writes: "The Rollei allowed me to capture some amazing moments: Puffy getting a trim in his office while doing three tasks at once, Biggie opening record plaques on his couch, Ice-T and Mack 10 hanging with their homies, Heavy D at the barber, playing pool. There was the Jack The Rapper convention with Death Row making a statement, at a Disney World Hotel, that ended in chaos. There were magical moments such as Redman and Erick Sermon freestyling on the mic to amazed onlookers at a block party in Newark and watching Wu-Tang Clan chop it up on the block in Staten Island on a cold winter’s day before they exploded." This coffee-table volume features over 130 of Spirer’s photographs from 1994 to 1997. As hip hop commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2023, it is particularly fitting that many of these images from this formative period are being published for the first time. Read more

**As featured on Barack Obama's Summer 2022 Reading List**Winner of the Gordon Burn PrizeWinner of the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in NonfictionFinalist for the National Book Critics Circle AwardFinalist for the Pen/Diamonstein-Spievogel Award for the Art of the EssayShortlisted for the National Book Award'Gorgeous' - Brit Bennett'Pure genius' - Jacqueline Woodson'One of the most dynamic books I have ever read' - Clint SmithAt the March on Washington, Josephine Baker reflected on her life and her legacy. She had spent decades as one of the most successful entertainers in the world, but, she told the crowd, "I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too". Inspired by these words, Hanif Abdurraqib has written a stirring meditation on Black performance in the modern age, in which culture, history and his own lived experience collide.With sharp insight, humour and heart, Abdurraqib explores a sequence of iconic and intimate performances that take him from mid-century Paris to the moon -- and back down again, to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. Each one, he shows, has layers of resonance across Black and white cultures, the politics of American empire, and his own personal history of love and grief -- whether it's the twenty-seven seconds of 'Gimme Shelter' in which Merry Clayton sings, or the magnificent hours of Aretha Franklin's homegoing; Beyoncé's Super Bowl show or a schoolyard fistfight; Dave Chapelle's skits or a game of spades among friends. Read more