Hiphop Archive Bibliography

Hiding in Hip Hop

webmaster — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:28:19 +0000

Everyone wants to know the truth about their favorite celebrities’ heart’s desire. Within the masculine culture of Hip Hop and Hollywood, there is a well-known gay subculture that industry insiders are keenly aware of but choose to hide. Terrance Dean worked his way up for more than ten years in the entertainment industry from intern to executive, and has lived the life of glitz and bling along with Hollywood and Hip Hop’s most glamorous. With a family full of secrets and working in an industry founded on maleness — where one’s job, friendships, and reputation all depend on remaining on the down low and in hiding — Dean writes a revealing account of the journey of coming out from hiding.
Full of startling anecdotes and incredible true stories, Hiding in Hip Hop is not a traditional tell-all. A personal and poignant memoir, it is also one of the most provocative and honest looks at stardom and sexuality.

Disciples of the Street

webmaster — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:52:22 +0000

What would cause a small, 140 year-old, Episcopal Church in the heart of the South Bronx to begin offering hip-hop services? How would the church, both locally and nationally, react? Utilizing scores or interviews and months of research, Disciples of the Street, is the story of one Church’s engagement with hip-hop religion, the conflicts that ensued, and the resulting birth of something much larger. Following the start of that small hip hop religious movement from its inception in the summer of 2004, through its building of a national profile, in a story that moves from the birthplace of rap to youth detention facilities in Virginia to the New South and all manner of places in between, Gutierrez looks deeply into the questions of what hip-hop has to say to the traditional church and what the church might say to hip-hop culture. Disciples of the Street is a compelling story well told and the definitive look at the issues facing a movement that’s growing in popularity and gaining traction around the country.

The Gospel Remix

webmaster — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:34:28 +0000

How can we understand—and reach— the hip hop generation?

Hip hop is DJing and MCing, break dancing and rapping; street art, street talk, and street smarts. It has its own language, its own look, its own consciousness. Hip hop is a culture and an identity, and for many African American churches, hip hop and its generation are both disturbing and frightening.

Hip hop raises difficult questions for church leaders:

-Do we accept hip hop or critique it?
-How can we as African Americans embrace something that makes us look so bad?
-How do we move from the objective study of a culture to being in fellowship with its people and empathizing with their lot in life?
-Can one “live hip hop” and still be a Christian?

Professor, and preacher-turned-DJ Ralph Watkins has struggled with these issues. In this important new resource he addresses the questions up front, offering sociological perspective, theological insight, biblical principles, and personal experience. Helping to provide the answers are contributors Jason Barr, Jamal Bryant, William Curtis, and Otis Moss III who are already creating The Gospel Remix in their own congregations and communities. They respond with candid ministry profiles of the hip hop pastor as prophet, father, peer, and model professional.

If you are serious about disciple making and reaching the lost, learn to walk as Jesus did, among this generation’s “tax collectors and sinners,” and discover as Paul did how to become all things to all people for the sake of winning a few.

Global Englishes and Transcultural Flows

webmaster — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:17:58 +0000

The English language is spreading across the world, and so too is hip-hop culture: both are being altered, developed, reinterpreted, reclaimed. This timely book explores the relationship between global Englishes (the spread and use of diverse forms of English within processes of globalization) and transcultural flows (the movements, changes and reuses of cultural forms in disparate contexts).

This wide-ranging study focuses on the ways English is embedded in other linguistic contexts, including those of East Asia, Australia, West Africa and the Pacific Islands. Drawing on transgressive and performative theory, Pennycook looks at how global Englishes, transcultural flows and pedagogy are interconnected in ways that oblige us to rethink language and culture within the contemporary world.

Global Englishes and Transcultural Flows is a valuable resource to applied linguists, sociolinguists, and students on cultural studies, English language studies, TEFL and TESOL courses.

Advance Your Swagger

HipHop — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:14:29 +0000

“My manners were the first ingredient that set me apart from my peers,” notes the suave and stylish Fonzworth Bentley, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former personal assistant and a celebrity in his own right. Now, in this one-of-a-kind book, Bentley shares his surefire strategies for success.Just how does a guy move from Atlanta to New York City without knowing a soul in the entertainment industry and become, in less than two years, the P.A. to one of the biggest moguls in hip-hop history? Bentley attributes his accomplishment to one key equation: Manners + Confidence + Style = Swagger. With this formula, Bentley transformed himself into an icon of unflappable grace, elegance, and good manners–and now he’s on a mission to help you step up your game, advance your swagger, get ahead, and live out your dreams.

Inside you’ll learn everything you need to know about

• manners and the magic of Please and Thank You
• the art of eating well, from which glass to use to handling the napkin
• the basics of fine dining, whether you’re a host or a guest
• the do’s and “oh no you di’int’s” of cell phones, e-mail, and text messaging
• projecting confidence through your body language
• the power of introductions, even when you can’t remember someone’s name
• what to do before, during, and after a job interview
• body maintenance, from hair to toes to pearly whites
• the principles of timeless fashion, so you never go out of style
• 15 things every man and 15 things every woman must have in his or her closet
Plus “Bent Hints”–little things to keep in mind for any occasion

Though we seem to be in the midst of what Bentley calls “the Golden Age of Disrespect,” he demonstrates how we can add a touch of class and dignity to our lives. He’s here to make sure your color schemes are fly and your stance is stage-ready.

Filled with photographs to illustrate his lessons, Advance Your Swagger is the lifestyle book of the year. He’s taken care of his world–now let Mr. Bentley whip yours into style.

In Ya Grill: THe Faces of Hip-Hop

HipHop — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:59:50 +0000

Imagine hanging with the stars of hip-hop–in 1987, when hip-hop was on the verge of changing the world. Since those early days and right up to the present, photographer Michael Benabib has always been on the list, and his intimate pictures reveal how hip-hop started as a grassroots musical movement and evolved into the most influential image machine in the world. Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Luther Campbell, Trina, Public Enemy, LL Cool. J, Eric B and Rakim, EPMD, KRS-One, Salt ‘N Pepa, Sean Combs, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Das EFX, Grandmaster Flash, and many others are here–performing, recording, relaxing and playing at clubs, parties, and on the streets. Captions by distinguished writer Bill Adler tell the story in words, exploring hip-hop’s dynamic melding of fashion, consumerism, and excess. With its never-before-seen photos and insightful text, In Ya Grill depicts and defines the music that has changed the American cultural landscape forever.
Michael Benabib shoots for The Source, the New York Times Magazine, and Newsweek, among many others, plus advertising clients including Heineken, Nissan, and Sprite. His album covers are seen on the Uptown, Def Jam, and Bad Boy labels. His hip-hop photographs were the subject of a retrospective at the Eyejammie Gallery in New York in 2005. He lives in New York.
Bill Adler is the author of Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC and Rap: Portraits and Lyrics of a Generation of Black Rockers. He wrote and produced And You Don’t Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop, a five-part documentary series that aired on VH1. He lives in New York City.

The Mirror and Me

HipHop — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:23:20 +0000

Kare is a young South African boy trying to adjust to a new school in New York City. When his schoolmates tease him because he is different, Kare attempts to change himself in order to fit in. After struggling with peer pressure, Kare finally realizes that in order to earn the respect of his friends, he must love himself first.

Common is a Grammy award-winning artist widely recognized as one of the most gifted lyricists in hip hop. The critical success of his debut album Can I Borrow A Dollar? established him as one of the leading voices of “conscious” rap music. Common is the founder and president of Common Ground Foundation which provides support to children with AIDS worldwide; the foundation is also dedicated to students pursuing careers in the Arts. As a spokesperson for Viacom and the Kaiser Family Foundation, Common’s voice has reached millions in the fight against AIDS with several ad campaigns. As one of the most respected emcees in hip hop history, Common encourages youth of all ages, not only to respect a foundation of hip hop, poetry/spoken word, but also to strengthen their power through reading. Common hopes his books will inspire children to think, write, and own the power of their own voice.

I Like You but I Love Me

HipHop — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:14:05 +0000

Kare is a young South African boy who falls for a girl named Free. When he begins to change himself in order to gain her affection, he learns a very important lesson about self-love.
Common is a Grammy award-winning artist widely recognized as one of the most gifted lyricists in hip hop. The critical success of his debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar? (Relativity) established him as one of the leading voices of conscious rap music. With the breakthrough success of his recording, Like Water for Chocolate (MCA) and the hit singles, The Light and Love of My Life, Common has achieved international acclaim and a devoted fan base. His latest endeavor, Be, received four Grammy nominations, including Best Rap Album. Common is the Founder and President of the Common Ground Foundation which provides support to children with AIDS world-wide. The foundation is also dedicated to students pursuing careers in the Arts. As a spokesperson for Viacom and the Kaiser Family Foundation, Commons voice has reached millions in the fight against AIDS. As one of the most respected emcees in hip hop history, Common encourages youth of all ages, not only to respect a foundation of hip hop, poetry/spoken word, but also to strengthen their power through reading. Common hopes his books will inspire children to think, write, and own the power of their own voice. Common is a native of Chicagos South Side. Lorraine West received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Fashion Institute of Technology with a focus in Illustration. West has a talent for finding unique ways to express intense human emotions and illustrated The Mirror and Me and I Like You, But I Love Me, for Hip Hop Schoolhouse. She is a painter, sculptor, jewelry designer, educator, and mentor dedicated to expressing truth, vision, and beauty through various artistic mediums. Lorraine integrates her art and design skills into the classroom by traveling to schools in New York City and the New England area, motivating young students to follow their artistic passions. Her imaginative jewelry designs have been featured in Elle, Essence, Vibe, and Organic Style.

From Black Power to Hip Hop: Racism, Nationalism, and Feminism

HipHop — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:23:24 +0000

Despite legislation designed to eliminate unfair racial practices, the United States continues to struggle with a race problem. Some thinkers label this a “new” racism and call for new political responses to it. Using the experiences of African American women and men as a touchstone for analysis, Patricia Hill Collins examines new forms of racism as well as political responses to it.

In this incisive and stimulating book, renowned social theorist Patricia Hill Collins investigates how nationalism has operated and re-emerged in the wake of contemporary globalization and offers an interpretation of how black nationalism works today in the wake of changing black youth identity. Hers is the first study to analyze the interplay of racism, nationalism, and feminism in the context of twenty-first century black America.

From Black Power to Hip Hop covers a wide range of topics including the significance of race and ethnicity to the American national identity; how ideas about motherhood affect population policies; African American use of black nationalism ideologies as anti-racist practice; and the relationship between black nationalism, feminism, and women in the hip-hop generation.

Two Turntables and a Social Movement: Writing Hip-Hop at Century’s End

HipHop — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:29:42 +0000