The artistic evolution of hip hop from the South Bronx to Eminem
Microphone Check: An Intro The Roots The Score Word of Mouth Asphalt Chronicles: Hip Hop and the Storytelling Tradition Seven MCs Conclusion Shout Outs Notes Index About the Author
William Jelani Cobb is Assistant Professor of History at Spelman College and editor of The Essential Harold Cruse: A Reader. He is a contributing writer at Essence magazine, and his music criticism and essays have also appeared in the Washington Post, Emerge, and the Progressive. His website can be found at www.jelanicobb.com. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
" To the Break of Dawn marks a crucial turning point in hip-hop writing... By opening the discourse on hip-hop's aesthetic, Cobb spearheads a new sub-genre, and perhaps a return or revolution in hip-hop aesthetics." Black Issues Book Review "Celebrates lyrical invention, the artists and even the particular rhymes that make hip-hop great. For the uninitiated, it is Hip Hop 101, offering a rich overview of rap's verbal artistry. For the aficionado, it alternately affirms and challenges deeply held beliefs of what is valuable in hip-hop." Washington Post Book World "Dissects the evolution of hip hop lyricism from its most primitive beginnings to its current manifestation as a global phenomenon. Cobb examines issues of race, geography, genre and bravado in this overview of hip hop's lyrical art. Covering words from B.I.G., Cube, Obie Trice and Pimp C, Cobb offers an intellectual and up-to-date report on hip hop's most powerful element." Source Magazine "On literally every page [Cobb] displays a tremendous command of language and history as he examines the aesthetic, stylistic, and thematic evolution of hip hop from its inception in the South Bronx to the present era. But make no mistake: this groundbreaking work is an artfully constructed and vividly written look at the artistic evolution of rap music and its relationship to earlier forms of black expression. Much of the book's pleasure also comes from Cobb's ability to freestyle serious and humorous insights." Publishers Weekly
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
