2 comments about Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child: The Stories Behind Every Song.

1. My 3 star rating isn't really a put-down. 3.5 is probably more accurate. The overall content and presentation are fine and there's alot of useful information in here. My problem with it is that I'd hoped to read a bunch of stuff I'd never seen elsewhere. But in fact, I didn't find much of anything that I hadn't already read elsewhere. Of the stuff that is here, some isn't even as detailed as you'll find in other books like Setting The Record Straight or Shadwick's Musician.



2. I am a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix. I listen to his music every day, and it never gets old. I've listened to all of the essential albums (and many more) but have never actually read any book on him and his music. I saw this book in the music part of the book store. I quickly looked through the pages, and was very intrigued, since I'd never heard where he got his inspiration from. And I must say this book will intrigue you as well. It really fills in the gaps on some of Jimi's songs, such as on Castles Made of Sand. I didn't know that the first verse was about Jimi's mom and dad fighting and eventually splitting up. Or the second verse was about his troubled brother Leon. And the third verse was about Jimi's mom dying. These interesting facts and more are in this book. If you own a lot of Jimi Hendrix CDs out there, and you're asking yourself: How did he do that? Where did he get that idea for a song? or Who is that song about? Then buy this book. It's a very informative and an interesting read.

No comments about Eminem: The Complete Guide To His Music (Complete Guide to the Music of...) (Complete Guide to the Music of...) (Complete Guide to the Music of...).

No comments about The Hip Hop Wars: What We Talk About When We Talk About Hip Hop--and Why It Matters.

No comments about Bismarck (Profiles in Power Series).

1 comments about Hip-Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason (Popular Culture and Philosophy).

1. Philosophy sounds like dry, ancient wisdom to modern youth - but it takes a different, more contemporary approach when led by hip-hop fans who have studied the pursuit of wisdom and come up with contemporary associations. HIP HOP & PHILOSOPHY: RHYME 2 REASON pairs great philosophers and their works to rap classics by Lauryn Hill, OutKast and others to show rap can help uncover the meaning of such philosophers as Plato. A delightful, fun presentation invites young college students to understand underlying meanings in both ancient and modern texts.

5 comments about Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality.

1. I'm a huge PE fan from back in 1987 when I got "Yo! Bum Rush The Show!" and of course Takes A Nation is the best rap album of all time, bar none. But man does Chuck D come across like an idiot here. Let me give you the chapter breakdown: 1: It's the white man's fault. 2. Damn crackers own the music business. 3 White man rules the world. 4. Santa Claus is a big fat Caucasian. 5. The Western world has hyped the AIDS numbers in Africa for "their own devious purposes." 6. It's the white man's fault. That AIDS quote is real, by the way. It's full of this kind of talk, and that's fine. He's entitled to his opinion, and white people have indeed done some pretty awful things to minorites over the centuries. But how about a few solutions, rather than his "I have put together a proposal for the US government about slavery, a payment of four trillion, two hundred billion dollars." We get your point, Chuck, but let's be realistic and offer some real world solutions. White guys may be the majority of sports agents, Hollywood execs, and corporate CEOs, yes. Do they screw over their artists? Sure--but they screw over both black and white artists in royalties and residuals--just ask that guy who played Batman on TV in the 60's/70's. In fairness, there are some cool bits about Africa, gangs, and other rappers. The best part is his stories about touring with U2. But I was hoping Chuck D would give us some solutions, rather than just a big vent/therapy session. White people rule the US? Maybe. Deal with it, and bring yourself up to their level. Peace--and go get a late pass!



2. Chuck D keeps it real about life. People always think hip hop is associated with crime. Hip hop is a way of life. It's our culture! Get that straight. The part about staying out the army was the realest sh*& Chuck D ever wrote! Props to my nig!



3. Great insightful book, must read for anyone who says they are Hip Hop.



4. I had a 3 day detention to serve, 90 min's after each school day, so I went to the library originally looking for a book on engenering.
   I saw this instead, and decided to rent it out.
   When I got in the car, I noticed the table of content's had several racial comment's in the front, but I ignored it. After reading a few CH. I couldnt beleive this book, but I kept reading it, cause it was entertaining how much of an idiot Chuck D is. He is the reason some white people have negative veiw's of black people. Because he play's the role of a loser who blaims everything on the same people that put him where he is now. Why not just bite the hand that feed's you? If you are in the black Panther's, are obsessed with Chuck D, or just straight up hate white people I would suggest this book. The real reason I hate this book is I despise anyone who makes racist comment's against anyone at any time, and against any race. I myself am white, and there was 3 race riot's where I grew up, I got stabbed in 5th grade by a black kid my age, and my father was murdered before I was born by a black man... So why don't I just write a book against " My oppressor's ". This book show's that Chuck D is truely not a smart man, just a racist fool, who is no more smart then Flavor Flav. He need's to go back to first grade, and watch more barney, so he can learn to love everyone. But I guess he is just going to get his, ironically like his song " Your gonna get your's ".
   I can not express in word's how much I hate this book, and I feel ashamed for every buying It takes a nation...



5. This book is absolutly the truth and a very important book. I just finished it after starting it only a week or so ago (it usually takes me a good month or two to finish a book, even one of this length). Chuck gives a great combination of PE history, politics, and world issues into on solid text. If you love Public Enemy's music and want more in depth discussion and disection of their lyrics and what Chuck stands for read this book. It will leave you inspired, angery, and ready to fight the power!

3 comments about A Tribe Called Quest's People's Instinctive Travels And the Paths of Rhythm (33 1/3).

1. As a fan of both the band and the series, I am almost unable to fully express my dissatisfaction with this book. One thing that is obvious to anyone familiar with the series is that, due to the fact that each edition is authored by someone different, there is a huge readability range in which a particular book may fall. This title , however, falls well short of any sort of acceptable range, failing to approach even "Very Bad" on any reasonable scale.
   
   The book focuses on notes the author made while imposing his 3-stage listening method while still in high school (when the album was initially released) and repeating this method 20 years later (when he began working on the book). The result is an entire book about his reactions to various songs in various settings... not exactly riveting.
   
   I purchased this with the expectation that it would chronicle the process of recording this fantastic debut album. Perhaps little quips and stories regarding the history of various songs, or maybe even some sort of theme that was envisioned for the recording by the members of either ATCQ or the production team. This is something I would have enjoyed reading and is similar to other books of this series. Unfortunately, Shawn Taylor has done nothing of the sort.
   
   Don't worry though, there is an afterword featuring a 20 question Q&A with one of the engineers conducted via instant message. Way to go Shawn!
   
   Shawn Taylor: If you ever google your name and find this, please contact me. I would like my $11 refunded. Thank you.



2. It is really quite funny how people have reacted to this book. There isn't very much middle ground between loving it or hating it. Many people want the book to be their on personal window into their beloved group/album--this attitude sets up a myopic view, a view based in the context of the reader, not taking into account the author's experience or relationship to the group/album. If you want to star f%@k, read the tabloids. I'm not a fan of celebrity, nore do I deify people--no matter how great their accomplishments. Instead of approaching the material through the lens of your ego, try broadening your capacity for experiences outside of your expectations.
   
   This is not to say that I'm not open to criticism--just the opposite. I know that there are many flaws...things I would have done in a different fashion. But the above review barely speaks to what is in the book--it only deals with the fanboy fantasies of what was left out. The mark of any good critic is to weigh what is included alongside what was excluded. The book was an experiment in how we relate to music over time, using Heraclitus' "You can't step into the same river twice" as an operating model.
   
   Instead of complaint and disparagement...how about your contribution?
   
   Shawn Taylor



3. I love ATCQ and I like most of the 33 1/3 books. I must say though, that if the above review is to be believed, the author himself only rated this book 3 stars. Sir, I'm blown away by your honesty and I give you much respect.

1 comments about Toby Keith (Blue Banner Biographies) (Blue Banner Biographies).

1. Toby Keith (Blue Banner Biographies) (Blue Banner Biographies)
   I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT'S SIMPLE, BUT IT COVERS A LOT ABOUT TOBY KEITH'S FAMILY LIFE(BOTH EARLY & RECENT),HIS CAREER AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER, & WHAT IT TOOK TO GET WHERE HE IS! IT'S A MUST FOR ANY FAN OF TOBY'S OR EVEN FOR A YOUNG PERSON POSSIBLY INTERESTED IN MAKING A CAREER IN MUSIC.

No comments about Hip Hop: A Short History (Hip Hop) (Hip-Hop).

1 comments about The Book of Hip Hop Cover Art.

1. You really know when a musical genre has arrived, when a book of cover artwork is published. Hip hop has been around for a couple of decades or more so Andrew Emery's colorful book is especially timely and can join the expanding shelf of titles devoted to great cover art.
   
   As is usual with any book devoted to this marketing art there are plenty of the duds and forgettable designs but in the case of hip hop the very nature of the music produces some startling and vibrant graphics. Just turn over the first few pages and by page thirteen the socko 1983 album Wild Style jumps of the page, graffiti artist Zephyr created the beautiful lettering, page sixteen has a stunning 1984 Afrika Bambaataa cover based on a Marvel comic cover. The three hundred covers are arranged historically into ten chapters and the author writes about the various musicians and graphic artists who created so many of these covers, in particular George Dubose gets some good coverage.
   
   I thought the chapter called Beat Biters was intriguing, as the music itself samples other sounds why not sample other covers as well, ten examples are shown including the 1991 cover from Young Black Strangers based on the 1963 'With the Beatles' album, a 1989 Tone Loc cover 'Loc'ed after Dark' was swiped from a 1963 Donald Byrd Blue Note LP designed by Reid Miles.
   
   This book will interest graphic designers and fans of hip hop and all those who just want a record of the stuff they've missed.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.