Byron Crawford is the founder and editor of the pioneering hip-hop blog ByronCrawford.com: The Mindset of a Champion, and the author of the books The Mindset of a Champion: Your Favorite Rapper's Least Favorite Book, Infinite Crab Meats, and Nas Lost: A Tribute to the Little Homey. Writin' Dirty is a collection of the 100 best essays he wrote from 2006 to 2011, selected from over 1,000 total, i.e. the top 10%-this is a book both Mitt Romney and the black guy who operates his car elevator could appreciate.

The Mindset of a Champion follows the career of legendary blogger Byron Crawford a/k/a Bol, founder and editor of the eponymous hip-hop blog, from a dark, foul-smelling dorm room in the middle of nowhere, to his pioneering work in the field of online hip-hop journalism, in which he either coined or popularized several slang terms that are generally frowned upon, attempted to have Kanye West banned from the Grammys (years before the incident with Taylor Swift), and witnessed a vicious, passionate sexual attack perpetrated by an animal, which is described here in detail. From there, it's on to his career as one of the first - and best, he would say - professional hip-hop bloggers, at XXL magazine, where he was involved in a number of controversies, including beefs with rappers like Bun B and Lupe Fiasco, posts that mysteriously disappeared from the Internets almost as soon as they appeared, and threats of boycotts by Muslims and black feminists. Nary a feeling is spared as he reveals the hilarious true stories behind the rise and fall of his career as a semi-professional hip-hop journalist.

NaS Lost is the Nas book only Byron Crawford could write, and not just due to literacy issues in the hip-hop community. Billed as a tribute to the little homey, it is in fact a tribute, but not in the way that an article in XXL magazine is a tribute to a rapper. NaS Lost considers the artist's career in its totality, from its amazing highs to its crushing lows -- and some of everything in between. Discussed in NaS Lost: The 2001 beef with Jay-Z. What really led to this dispute? Nas and Jay-Z as Eskimo brothers. How the two of them became related in a sense. Nas' albums. Is it true what Jay-Z said, that Nas has a one hot album every 10 year average? Illmatic's five mic review in The Source. Was it really the best album of its era? The dreaded n-word. If KKKramer can say it, why can't Nas? Ghostwriting allegations. Can anything dream hampton says on Twitter be believed? The Virginia Tech controversy. What is the real cause of most school shootings? The hostage situation in Africa. Who was to blame there, Nas, the promoters, or the continent of Africa? Nas' marriage to Kelis. Bad idea, or worst idea of all time? Nas as a parent. Why is his teenage daughter posting her birth control on Instagram? Cultural tourism. Why is it that SPIN magazine likes a Chief Keef album more than Life Is Good?

Infinite Crab meats is an all you can eat buffet of probing, insightful hip-hop journalism. It's like Crab Legs Night at an actual Chinese buffet, except you don't have to wrestle with rednecks in order to make sure you get a plate. Have as much as you'd like. Pretend you're Rick Ross.

Discussed in Infinite Crab Meats: The author's beef with controversial, venture capital-funded rap lyrics website Rap Genius, as discussed in the New York Times Rick Ross' love of decadent seafood, and its health consequences The emergence of a cottage industry built around collecting pictures of teenage girls with extremely large breasts Allegations that Chief Keef was involved in the gang-related murder of fellow young Chicago rapper Lil JoJo The campaign to have XXL editor in chief Vanessa Satten fired for posting a controversial Too Short video Hot 97 refusing to play local New York artists, like Sean Price, and calling them "minor league rappers" Kreayshawn's occasional racist outburst on Twitter Sexual assault allegations against Indian-American hipster rap group Das Racist, and Indian sexual behavior more generally Brian B.Dot Miller's intense debate with SPIN magazine's Jordan Sargent on whether or not white people should be allowed to write about rap music

Some of the many things you'll learn: Why it's impossible to subsist on a steady diet of ramen noodles What Geek Squad really does with your computer The importance of occasionally looking up at a woman's face How much it would cost to fap to completion using the Internets at FedEx Office Why Totinos pizza rolls are superior to Totinos frozen pizza The origin of the term Black People Twitter At least two different ways to commit wire fraud The best way to talk a girl into letting you "drop a digit" on her Why a combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is more of a Taco Bell than a Pizza Hut