Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
|
Your cart is empty |
|||
Books > Music > Contemporary popular music > Rock & pop > Rap & hip-hop
"A thug is someone who stands on his own. He lives by the decisions
he makes and accepts the consequences. A thug is comfortable in his
own skin. I wear mine like a glove."
"Richard Schur offers a provocative view of contemporary African
American cultural politics and the relationship between African
American cultural production and intellectual property law." "Whites used to own blacks. Now, they accomplish much the same
thing by insisting that they 'own' ownership. Blacks shouldn't let
them. A culture that makes all artists play by its rules will end
up controlling new ideas and stifling change. Richard Schur's fine
book explains why." What is the relationship between hip-hop and African American culture in the post--Civil Rights era? Does hip-hop share a criticism of American culture or stand as an isolated and unique phenomenon? How have African American texts responded to the increasing role intellectual property law plays in regulating images, sounds, words, and logos? "Parodies of Ownership" examines how contemporary African American writers, artists, and musicians have developed an artistic form that Schur terms "hip-hop aesthetics." This book offers an in-depth examination of a wide range of contemporary African American painters and writers, including Anna Deavere Smith, Toni Morrison, Adrian Piper, Colson Whitehead, Michael Ray Charles, Alice Randall, and Fred Wilson. Their absence from conversations about African American culture has caused a misunderstanding about the nature of contemporary cultural issues and resulted in neglect of their innovative responses to the post--Civil Rights era. By considering their work as a cross-disciplinary and specifically African American cultural movement, Schur shows how a new paradigm for artistic creation has developed. "Parodies of Ownership" offers a broad analysis of post--Civil Rights era culture and provides the necessary context for understanding contemporary debates within American studies, African American studies, intellectual property law, African American literature, art history, and hip-hop studies. Weaving together law, literature, art, and music, Schur deftly clarifies the conceptual issues that unify contemporary African American culture, empowering this generation of artists, writers, and musicians to criticize how racism continues to affect our country. Richard L. Schur is Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Center, and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Drury University. Visit the author's website: http: //www2.drury.edu/rschur/index.htm.Cover illustration: "Atlas, " by Fred Wilson. (c) Fred Wilson, courtesy Pace Wildenstein, New York.
When noted rapper Eminem commanded his audience's attention in his 2000 megahit release "The Real Slim Shady" and queried in the lyrics, "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?," the authors took the question seriously and began to search for the "real slim shady" among the fabric of contemporary capitalism. The result of this research is this book, which explores how a dominant culture incorporates some dimensions of a subculture--in this case hip hop--and uses it to perpetuate dimensions of social stratification within a society. Essentially, this book critically examines how the values of a dominant culture and the controlling images it reproduces, impact issues of racial diversity, class distinctions, and gender stereotypes. Authors Dave Ramsaran and Simona Hill are two sociologists who have sought to understand the contradictory nature of contemporary social phenomenon. Hip hop that is brought into the mainstream by contemporary media serves several purposes. First, it greatly enhances corporate profits. Second, it repackages old dimensions of inequality, including racial stereotyping and the sexist contempt for women. Third, the glorification of violence, the idealization of excessive consumption, and the promotion of hypersexual black masculinity serve to reinforce the privilege of dominant groups. Hip hop that challenges these stereotypes and cultural notions is pushed into the underground. The intent of the book is to uncover this process of moving from cultural questioning to cultural appropriation and reinforcement of structural inequality. Despite the existence of other works on hip hop in fields such as ethnomusicology, anthropology, political science, communications studies and Black Studies, there is a dearth in the contributions from a sociological perspective. Studies have been done which look at the emergence of hip hop from its roots in the African-American community, as well as on the contributions of some of the major artists in the field. However, little work has been done on trying to locate the emergence of hip hop and hip hop culture within the context of capitalist development in the United States. The book shows how racial, gender, and ethnic stereotypes are reformulated through different media. The book critically analyzes two prominent archetypal images of the gangsta male and the wanksta feminist who can be either male or female. The analysis shows that hip hop outside of mainstream media has remained true to its radical traditions. Moreover, as hip hop has gone beyond the confines of the United States, that same radical tradition remains a key component in the hip hop diaspora and in hip hop's cross-cultural expressions. Hip Hop and Inequality: Searching for the "Real" Slim Shady is an important book for understanding how systems of inequality work and how they are perpetuated. It will be of immense value to professors and students in sociology, anthropology, political science, women's studies, popular culture, and media studies. Written in an accessible language, it will also appeal to an audience outside academia and will certainly speak to those who may or may not realize that hip hop has a profound impact on modern society.
In Dead Precedents, Roy Christopher traces the story of how hip-hop invented the twenty-first century. Emerging alongside cyberpunk in the 1980s, the hallmarks of hip-hop - allusion, self-reference, the use of new technologies, sampling, the cutting and splicing of language and sound - would come to define the culture of the new millennium.Taking in the groundbreaking work of DJs and MCs, alongside writers like Dick and Gibson, as well as graffiti and DIY culture, Dead Precedents is a counter-culture history of the twentieth century, showcasing hip-hop's role in the creation of the world we now live in.
"A strong and timely book for the new day in hip-hop. Don't miss it!"--Cornel West For many African Americans of a certain demographic the sixties and seventies were the golden age of political movements. The Civil Rights movement segued into the Black Power movement which begat the Black Arts movement. Fast forward to 1979 and the release of Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." With the onset of the Reagan years, we begin to see the unraveling of many of the advances fought for in the previous decades. Much of this occurred in the absence of credible, long-term leadership in the black community. Young blacks disillusioned with politics and feeling society no longer cared or looked out for their concerns started rapping with each other about their plight, becoming their own leaders on the battlefield of culture and birthing Hip-Hop in the process. In "Som""e""body Scr""e""am," Marcus Reeves explores hip-hop music and its politics. Looking at ten artists that have impacted rap--from Run-DMC (Black Pop in a B-Boy Stance) to Eminem (Vanilla Nice)--and puts their music and celebrity in a larger socio-political context. In doing so, he tells the story of hip hop's rise from New York-based musical form to commercial music revolution to unifying expression for a post-black power generation.
The mother of rap superstar Kanye West shares her experiences on being a single mother raising a celebrity. As the mother of hip-hop superstar Kanye West, Donda West has watched her son grow from a brilliant baby boy with all the intimations of fame and fortune to one of the hottest rappers on the music scene. And she has every right to be proud: she raised her son with strong moral values, teaching him right from wrong and helping him become the man he is today. In Raising Kanye, Donda not only pays homage to her famous son but reflects on all the things she learned about being his mother along the way. Featuring never-before-seen photos and compelling personal anecdotes, Donda's powerful and inspiring memoir reveals everything from the difficulties she faced as a single mother in the African American community to her later experiences as Kanye's manager as he rose to superstardom. Speaking frankly about her son's reputation as a "Mama's Boy," and his memorable public outbursts about gay rights and President George W. Bush, Donda supports her son without exception, and here she shares the invaluable wisdom she has taken away from each experience-passion, tolerance, patience, and above all, always telling the truth. Ultimately, she not only expresses what her famously talented son has meant to her but what he has meant to music and an entire generation.
"Every kid has the same story. Wash up on shore. Enter the amusement park. Get superpowers. Why are you so different?" Join fan-favorite rapper Vince Staples, Bryan Edward Hill (Batman & the Outsiders; Titans), Chris Robinson (Children of the Atom), and Buster Moody (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) on an adventure into the mysterious Limbo Beach, an island theme park ruled by adolescents with unique abilities! Follow the newest member of the Wunderlosts, a band of misfit teenage raiders, on a journey to discover the truth about the park-and himself-in a tale that is equal parts Lord of the Flies and The Warriors.
Our generation made hip-hop. But hip-hop also made us. Why are
suburban kids referring to their subdivision as "block"? Why has
the pimp become a figure of male power? Why has dodging the feds
become an act of honor long after one has made millions as a
legitimate artist? What happens when fantasy does more harm than
reality?--"From the Introduction"
People Magazine"Shady Bizzness was disturbing and intense! It was like a good scary movie!" MSNBC"It was brilliantly written!" Book DescriptionThis story is based on the factual ills of "white rapper" and Hip-Hop phenomenon, "Eminem." "Shady Bizzness" tell about real life events of his public and private lifestyle. The book details the good times, hardships, drug abuse, domestic violence, scandals, sex, near-death experiences, murder, oppression of employees and bitter betrayl. "Shady Bizzness" is everything a parent despises, thugs love, groupies lust over, and wives hate!
This book explores the two major reasons for hip-hop culture's proliferation throughout the world: 1) the global centrality of African American popular culture and the transnational pop culture industry of record companies and entertainment conglomerates; and 2) "connective marginalities" that are extant social inequalities forming the foundation for an "underground" network of hip-hop communities. Both of these levels of hip-hop's global circulation are based in the youth culture's Africanist aesthetic, which is an extension of previous black artistic expressions such as verbal word play, polyrhythmic dance improvisations, radical juxtapositions of musical structures, and the folkloric trickster figure. Additionally, the text explores computer technology and the internet in this age of information that also serves hip-hop culture's globalization.
Only one woman knows - his mother Debbie Nelson, at one point reviled on dozens of Internet sites as the most hated mother in the world. But by cleaning out her own personal closet, Debbie reveals a bitter-sweet story of a single mother who gave her son everything in an attempt to make up for his absent father and her own miserable childhood. This, her no holes barred autobiography, is an open letter to Marshall Bruce Mathers III, a loving reminder of how they once were, and an attempt to set the record straight by untangling the unspoken and enigmatic alter egos Eminem and Slim Shady. It reveals that there's much more to the story than his fans ever thought.
Call him "Puffy," "Puff Daddy," "P. Diddy," "Diddy," or even "Sean"--by whatever name he currently goes, Sean Combs is a hip-hop star extraordinaire. With unquenchable determination and a sense of style and showmanship, Combs has been able to achieve whatever he put his mind to, attaining an incredible amount of wealth and success despite the obstacles he has had to endure. From humble Harlem beginnings to global commodity, the story of Sean Combs depicts the ultimate American dream. Starting as a New York City party promoter, Combs went on to create Bad Boy Records, establishing himself as a hitmaking producer. From there came success as a restauranteur and a fashion designer, with acting roles in film and on Broadway. This new full-color biography features informative sidebars, a comprehensive discography, and an in-depth chronology that highlight the fascinating life and times of this entrepreneurial--and mercurial--superstar.
Queen Latifah may not have been the first female rapper, but she was the first to become a bona fide star. Her strength, charisma, and intelligence have made her stand out in a highly competitive field. Growing up in the New Jersey projects, Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, displayed a determination that helped her muscle her way to the top. In 1993, her album ""Black Reign"" became the first rap record by a female artist to go gold. Queen Latifah's breakthrough paved the way for the talented crew of women rappers who hit the scene in the 1990s. Soon, she expanded her considerable talents to acting, starring in a sitcom and receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role in the smash musical Chicago. This intriguing new biography explores the life of a trailblazer who is not only one of the most recognized women in hip-hop, but also one of the most respected names in the entertainment industry.
As head of the first special force unit devoted exclusively to the
investigation of hip-hop crime, first-grade detective Derrick
Parker worked on some of the biggest criminal cases in rap history.
From the shooting at Club New York to the murder of Tupac Shakur,
Derrick was on the inside of hip-hop's most notorious crimes.
View the Table of Contents. Read the Prologue. aSharpley-Whiting's book does not suffer from the sort of
cowardice one too often hears from black academics who genuflect to
hip hop in order to stay current with the tastes of the students
who provide them with whatever power they have on college campuses.
Sharpley-Whiting calls them as she sees them and wisely quotes the
offensive material when necessary. Her book is high level in its
research and its thought, and those looking for adult ideas about
the subject should look it up.a aSharpley-Whiting gets at the heart of the paradox . . . and
puts the discussion on the turntable.a aSharpley-Whiting unmasks thought provoking socio-political commentaries concerning sexual obsession in rap music and its affects on the black female sense of self.a--"Allhiphop.com" aOffers an insightful look into the strip clubs, groupie culture, and other aspects of hip hop that have given a voice to the disenfranchised while raising troubling questions about what those voices are saying and doing.a--"Vanderbilt Magazine" aOffers damning evidence about hip hopas underlying racial and social prejudices, examining the politics of gender and providing a feministas perspective and insights into black music;s underlying message.a--"The Midwest Book Review" aSharpley-Whittingas uncommon perspective is one that deserves
to be examined more often.a aFor B-girls who embrace both the brashness of Lila Kim and the
pro-feminism of Lauryn Hill, Pimps Up, Hoas Down is an intellectual
look at the intricate, diverse attitudes of young black women
within the hip hop community.Sharpley-Whiting combines
thought-provoking text with interviews that range from the aricha
(see Trina) to the aregulara (everyday women), giving a voice to
todayas complex and contradictory females within hip hop.a aThrough provocatively titled chapters such as aSex, Power, and
Punannya and aStrip Tails: Booty Clappina, P-poppina, Shake
Dancing, a Sharpley-Whiting provides a sobering analysis of womenas
participation in the hyper-sexualized black American, urban youth
culture known as hip hop. . . . This book delivers a riveting
portrayal of hip hop, from the thumping rap music that serves as a
soundtrack for Americaas strip clubs to the predatory groupies who
relentlessly pursue rap stars.a aProbing. . . . A canny study. . . . Sharpley-Whiting brings
both street smarts and sophisticated cultural analysis to her
subject.a aClear and well written. . . . It serves as a decent jumping-off
point to discussions of young black women in our current society. .
. . Sharpley-Whiting has opened up the dialog, offering a source
for research in a burgeoning area of study.a aSharpley-Whiting provides interesting anecdotes about the ways
in which women are portrayed (and often used) within hip hop. . . .
[Her] insightful analyses [include] a particularly interesting
discussion of the intersections of race, class, and capitalism in
strip clubs.a Pimps Up, Hoas Down is an in-depth look at hip hopas effect on
young black women. Sharpley-Whiting discusses topics such as
light-skinned black (or ethnically ambiguous) females getting more
love in hip hop videos, unreportedsexual abuse within black
communities -- even the fact that most hip hop groupies do not
consider themselves groupies. She successfully ties these trends
into the mainstream hip hop culture of today. Pimps Up, Hoas Down
provides an intellectual look at how hip hop views and affects the
young black women of this generation, most who are oblivious to
what is actually going on. Sharpley-Whitingas uncommon perspective
is one that deserves to be examined more often.a aOffers a bracing, brilliant, and provocative take on how hip
hop has affected young black women. Sharpley-Whiting manages the
difficult task of being critical of destructive elements of hip hop
culture without being dismissive of its edifying dimensions. This
lucidly penned manifesto in defense of the intellectual spaces
between hip hop and feminism will undoubtedly inspire heated debate
and fruitful conversation about gender, black identity, and
conflict between the generations." aIn Pimps Up, Hoas Down, Sharpley-Whitingas razor-sharp analysis
turns an illuminating spotlight on the dark, complicated
intersection where feminism and hip hop meet.a "Pimps Up, Ho's Down provides a vital critical assessment of the
sexual exploitation of women and girls all too prevalent in hip hop
culture and in our larger society. This intelligent and sensitively
written study is mandatory reading for those of us who must stop
the violence." aIn this bold critique of popular cultureas
stereotypicalrepresentations of hip hop, Tracy Sharpley-Whiting
never wavers from her end goal of empowering the hip hop
generation. Pimps Up, Hoas Down takes this discussion beyond the
ivory tower and into the lives of everyday people.a "This compelling, well-researched-and alarming-account of how
hip hop culture has impacted the lives and shaped the identities of
young black women should be read by women and men of every
generation." aTracy Sharpley-Whitingas groundbreaking book makes central the
harsh sexist and racist realities that hip hop generation Black
women face on a daily basis.a Pimps Up, Ho's Down pulls at the threads of the intricately knotted issues surrounding young black women and hip hop culture. What unravels for Tracy D. Sharpley-Whiting is a new, and problematic, politics of gender. In this fascinating and forceful book, Sharpley-Whiting, a feminist writer who is a member of the hip hop generation, interrogates the complexities of young black women's engagement with a culture that is masculinist, misogynistic, and frequently mystifying. Beyond their portrayal in rap lyrics, the display of black women in music videos, television, film, fashion, and on the Internet is indispensable to the mass media engineered appeal of hip hop culture, the author argues. And the commercial trafficking in the images and behaviors associated with hip hop has made them appear normal, acceptable, and entertaining-both in the U.S. and around the world. Sharpley-Whiting questions the impacts of hip hop's increasing alliance with the sex industry, the rise of groupie culture in the hip hop world, the impact of hip hop's compulsory heterosexual culture on young black women, and the permeation of the hip hop ethos into young black women's conceptions of love and romance. The author knows her subject from the inside. Coming of age in the midst of hip hop's evolution in the late 1980s, she mixed her graduate studies with work as a runway and print model in the 1990s. Her book features interviews with exotic dancers, black hip hop groupies, and hip hop generation members Jacklyn "Diva" Bush, rapper Trina, and filmmaker Aishah Simmons, along with the voices of many "everyday" young women. Pimps Up, Ho's Down turns down the volume and amplifies the substance of discussions about hip hop culture and to provide a space for young black women to be heard.
Dr. Dre: 'In The Studio' details Dr. Dre s life, times and history, in a way no other book has. Dr. Dre: 'In the Studio' describes how he was molded into one of the world s greatest Hip Hop Producers beginning when he was three years old absorbing the music during his mother s house parties. As a deejay, Dre mixed and spun his way to the top, using Grandmaster Flash as his catalyst; and then embarked on his destiny as the most in demand and greatest record producer of rap music in the world. Author Jake Brown brilliantly captures the history of this music legend. The excitement and notoriety of Dr. Dre never lingers as the reader learns all about Dr. Dre s relationships; from Death Row Records to Aftermmath Entertainment, with the World Class Wrecking Crew, N.W.A., D.O.C., Suge Knight, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game and much more. Dr. Dre: 'In the Studio' focuses on the hip hop production godfather's studio craft. Exploring in great detail the writing and production of Dr. Dre's catalog of smash hit, multi-platinum, albums and singles.
The Def Jam legend shares his secrets. Under the leadership of Kevin Liles - the highest ranking and youngest African-American executive in the record industry - Def Jam Music grew from a fledgling million-dollar boutique label into a multi-million-dollar brand that transcends demographics and is recognized around the glove. Liles has worked with the biggest names in hip-hop, including Jay-Z, Diddy, Method Man, and Ja Rule. And now he's sharing the wealth, the wealth of knowledge and expertise he's gleaned from fifteen years in business. Full of eye-opening real-world anecdotes from Lile's life, the "Ten Rules" plan advises readers on: how to find something that you want badly enough to make you work harder than you ever imagined possible; how to strategize and look ahead; how to embrace the hard-knock life and learn from failure, and more.
"The Psychology of Hip Hop" is a provocative examination of the world of Hip Hop, and how this music genre has shaped the American landscape. Going where no one else dares, "The Psychology of Hip Hop" effectively explains behaviors of some of the best known Hip Hop stars, like 50Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z, T.I., Lil' Kim and Snoop Dogg. Think you know? Guess again McPhaul, a Mental Health Therapist and Personal Advisor to some of the world's biggest entertainers, explains what the media only speculates about. "The Psychology of Hip Hop" outlines the complex maze of R. Kelly's sexual indiscretions and the heinous exploitation of Hip Hop phenomenon B2K. In addition, "The Psychology of Hip Hop" answers questions such as, is Sean "P.Diddy" Combs really a Psychopath? And, studies if Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace and Tupac Shakur died as a result of an East Coast versus West Coast rivalry, or if greed of record company executives was the cause of their untimely deaths. "The Psychology of Hip Hop" surveys the impact of racism and the influence of legal professionals on the music genre, and in the chapter "Pop Diva Takes A Dive" finally answers the question, did Bobby Brown really ruin Whitney Houston?
'Hip Hop is Dead! Long Live Hip Hop!' From the front lines of hip hop culture and music in the USA, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, Tanzania, Cuba, Samoa and South Africa, academics, poets, practitioners, journalists, and political commentators explore hip hop -- both as a culture and as a commodity. From the political economy of the South African music industry to the cultural resistance forged by Afro-Asian hip hop, this potent mix of contributors provides a unique critical insight into the implications of hip hop globally and locally. Indispensable for fans of hip hop culture and music, this book will also appeal to anyone interested in cultural production, cultural politics and the implications of the huge variety of forms hip hop encompasses.
This book will entertain, inform and challenge the realest hip hop fan from the old to the new. Peep This Hip Hop Trivia Vol. 1 features over 400 questions on the artists you know and love. You can test yourself or your friends on anything from your favorite artists to your favorite songs.
From the creators of Godspeed: The Kurt Cobain Graphic and Eminem: In My Skin comes an explosive new graphic novel, tracing the events leading up to the death of one of modern music's most charismatic performers. Tupac: One Nation Under a Gun chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of the notorious hip-hop superstar Tupac Shakur, the figurehead of a musical movement that came to define black culture in America and beyond. Exploring the recesses of a racist, damaged country, the book takes the reader on a self-destructive ride through the violence and corruption and greed of Los Angeles. The marriage of Barnaby Legg and Jim McCarthy's incendiary writing with Flameboy's potent, gritty visuals produces a new perspective on the controversial events surrounding the rise of Death Row Records, the brutality of street gang warfare and murder. From the hazy skies of Los Angeles to the back streets of New York, this tells the story of a unique talent cut down at just 25 years of age.
|
You may like...
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin - The Untold…
Cyrus Bozorgmehr
Paperback
OneTrackMinds - True stories about…
Kristian Brodie, Adam Shakinovsky
Paperback
R297
Discovery Miles 2 970
|