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 Rage Against The Machine.

1. This book is a very weak attempt at chronicling one of the most politically motivated and innovative bands in the last 20 years. I would not recommend this book for anyone because there is very little if any new information or stories behind the music and the people who built it. Time would be better spent on the web reading a good faq. I was very disappointed with the effort put into this book, (entirely made up of magazine quote references) and find this book and insult to any biographer or Rage Against the Machine fan. Not worth the 90 minutes it took to read it (nap included).



2. Great read. Mr. Devenish does a fine job of allowing the reader to get to know the boys that rage. After reading this book it made me want to climb up the scaffolding at the MTV movie awards.
   A winner for any fan.



3. Whether or not Colin Devenish's biography of Rage Against The Machine will be of any use to you depends on how big of a fan you already are. While Mr. Devenish does a decent job of collecting information from magazines and various other publications to inform the reader about the bands history, most of it is probably information that the hardcore fan has already discovered for themselves.

   The book chronicles the entire career of the band, starting with their childhoods with their first introductions to music and the various frustrations with society, government, and racism that each one faced in order to start out their elite political path. It moves through the members first bands in their teen years until their formation in the early 90's and debut album. It then proceeds to discuss the details behind each albums recording process, the tours in support of each, and various other tidbits all the way up to when Zack de la Rocha departed from the group. While the biographical information is useful if you've never been exposed to the band before, any serious Rage listener will know that 148 pages is simply not enough to keep track of one of the most integral, politically-minded, and activist bands in rock history, especially one that has released such honest, truthful, and rebellious music.

   The author seems to have a decent grasp on researching, but falls short a few times when he uses the same quote twice in various places. Thankfully, shortcomings aside, the book will give you an insight into some of the organizations and stances against oppression Rage has aligned themselves with, including the Anti-Nazi Leauge and the efforts to free two innocent prisoners of the U.S. government, Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. The biography will give enough adequete information about each to lead the reader in the right direction of finding more information.

   The real complaint that I have is that the book was simply not long enough. Rage is by far one of the most important bands in rock history in the ways of both politics and music and has shaped both in drastic ways. A less-than 200 page summary just doesn't cut it. If you're a die-hard fan, I would go along with another reviewers suggestion and try to find a good web site or FAQ online, if you're new to the band and want some starting information, Colin Devenish's effort isn't bad as it will at least give you some information about the band and their cause, not to mention the various opinions on the group by rap virtuosos Public Enemy and rock gods such as Neil Young.




4. In the time of the lampshades, we knew we had only moments. Then, without a shot, without a noise, cattle died. Penelope Anne Miller became a senator. My hat was full of sour cream. The phones rang and rang, and then I wet them. This book made me a eunuch. I was Timothy McGoey.



5. A wonderful biography and musical analysis. It also has a section of color photos on high grade bond paper.

3 comments about Rap Attack 3.

1. "All music has a history, shameful or illustrious, but for a 14-year old chilling out in Playland, white nylon anorak with the hood pulled tight and maybe a pair of Nike kicks with the tongues pulled out, what matters in the mini-phones plugged into the Walkman (or one of its cheaper variants) is the post-NASA - Silicon Valley - Atari - TV Break Out - Taito - Sony - Roland - Linn - Oberheim - Lucas - Speilberg groove." That's David Toop on the "electro" music of the early '80s--just one of many subjects handled with real sensitivity and street smarts in _Rap Attack_, a classic text now in its third edition. A musician as well as a writer, Toop conveys the magnitude of hip hop's revolution in sound--combining the musique concrete of Edgar Varese with the urban frenzy of a Bronx social club at 2:00 a. m.--but also its verbal genius, a lineage extending from the griots of Northern Nigeria to "doin' the dozens" to Kool Keith. With a dry wit and the erudition of a walking pop-music encyclopedia, Toop tells the tale of the amazing homegrown phenomenon that by 1998 "had overtaken country music to become America's biggest-selling format."



2. This is a serious, thorough, warmly written book about a musical genre that until very recently was given short shrift by most music critics. Toop dived head-first into the subject and immersed himself in the history, culture and mythology of hip-hop. His enthusiasm is infectious. One of the best books about music I've read.



3. First published 1984, then with a few extra chapters. This was on publication essential reading and remains so. It combines a good account of hip Hop's formation and antecedents with a look at the contemporary scene..labels, artists and crews. It is particularly good for tracing themes within the culture and cross referencing them to earlier music. Well written, suitable for all ages with classic photos, every Hip Hop fan should own this.

3 comments about Hip-Hop Bass: 101 Grooves, Riffs, Loops, and Beats (Bass Builders).

1. This book is full of funky little progressions that really taught me a lot! I've been playing for a few years and wanted to expand my playing style...glad I picked this book up! I highly recommend it.



2. I enjoyed this product Hip Hop Bass very much. Earlier I had bought my first bass book on Funk Bass. After finishing Hip Hop Bass, I can say there are a lot of styles in what we today called Hip Hop. Hip Hop borrows music from a variety of rich sources such as: swing, funk, disco, and a variety of Latin music styles. I feel that my rhythmic abilities have increased because of Hip Hop Bass and that this book really opens you to the different movements such as West Coast, East Coast, and Down South. The first page gives a description of some of the differences between styles and a little history lesson as well. In all, I thought this book was a very good beginning tool to anyone with a curiosity with Hip Hop and an interest in using some of these ideas in their music whatever style it happens to be.



3. I just received this book a couple of days ago, and it was slightly different than my expectations. This book has a one page introduction, which describes the differences and origens of east coast, west coast, and down south styles. After that, it is 101 grooves, riffs, and loops to practice. Most of these musical examples are 2-4 measures in length and repeat. This is not nessecarily a bad thing, just different than what I had expected. I give the book four stars because even though the examples are great and varied, I was hoping there would be a little more written explanation to go along with the examples to help me understand them better.

5 comments about The Commandments of R&B Drumming: A Comprehensive Guide to Soul, Funk and Hip Hop.

1. I recently began "using" this book. One doesn't just read it. It is a history, study guide, practice guide, and motivator. Each of the major sections includes a discussion of the great artists, the terminology of the particular genre, a list of "must have" CDs, and actual transcriptions of specific grooves.

   I'm looking forward to matching up the transcriptions to the grooves. When I'm handed a chart, I'll know what groove is expected. I already play some of the grooves, but this book shows the next logical step for growth; a slight variation or two. Also, in my case, I'm not up-to-date on the newer "Hip-Hop" and other grooves. Learning these will be major growth for me. I believe it's best suited to gigging drummers who want to expand their box o' chops. But things are laid out clearly enough for beginners.

   If you want to get funkier and be ready to rock, I recommend this book. The list of CDs is worth the price.

   Stay cool. Peace.




2. my husbands love this book for all musicians this is a must have for drum programing as well and a addition to your studio tools for sampling and programing .



3. If you have an inkling of interest in funk and soul drumming, or just wonder who was that amazing drummer on that old soul hit, this is the book for you. Zoro's love of this music is infectious and makes it a joy to read. His transcriptions are dynamite and answer many questions of "How did they do that" for many great songs. The CD is a great tool to help you practice these grooves and his lists of recommended music have turned me on to some drummers I wasn't already familiar with. Once you have this book, the next step is to get the DVD which has him performing all this great music. ...



4. Zoro, who is well respected in the drumming community, takes you through the evolution of R&B music with information about the drummers who laid down the groove, discographies of great albums, and lists of must-know tunes for the working drummer. The Chapters take you through the evolution of feels with lots of groove exercises and transcriptions of tunes typical of the feel/style.

   Not only does Zoro teach you the grooves, but he presents great exercises for developing independence, especially to get those happy, stanky feet on the bass and hats. The progression of the lessons was so straightforward that I actually taught myself to read while studying this book.

   The best part is that the Commandments of R&B Drumming is FUN. You will not find a more entertaining book anywhere on drumming. Zoro loves this music and it shows in his writing. Since I finished it, I still like to go back and breeze through the exercises just to dig on the grooves.




5. I bought this book after seeing Zoro on the 2005 MD festival. What a groove. This is a great book for building a background of knowledge that is essential for any drummer looking to become a great groover. Get it and download every song or record mentioned in here; and listen. Zoro has dug up all the info on all the great players of R&B, motown, funk, soul, hip hop, etc. All great musicians are walking, talking encyclopedias of great recorded music and great players. This is the book for the drummer who understands he/she needs a history lesson as much as a drum lesson to find that magic pocket in their playing. The exercises outlined in the book are also quite valuable.

2 comments about New York Ricans from the Hip Hop Zone.

1. finally theres a book out there that latinos of all cultures can relate to, and luckily for myself, Raquel Z. Rivera, was my professor for my Puerto Rican Culture class, and to be able to read her book and hear her story was learning experience i am very grateful for. read this book and you will learn much more than just about hip hop, you learn about struggle and identity, and how being puerto rican goes so much more further than what people assume.



2. I really enjoyed this book. As a Latino who from the Northeast who is now in his mid-20s, I remember the breakdancing craze and many of the hip hop artists Rivera writes about, who were big during my childhood.
   One of the book's strengths is Rivera's attention to social and historical conditions that led to cultural production and social solidarity between Blacks and Puerto Ricans in New York City. As a non-Puerto Rican Latino, I've long been fascinated by the high degree of solidarity and unity between Blacks and Ricans, and Rivera's research shed much light on this topic.
   Fortunately, I had the chance to meet Rivera shortly after reading this boook when she attended a seminar on Latino influence in hip hop in Philadelphia. She's a good author and a great person. Read this book, if you have an interest in either Latino Studies or hip hop's old school days.

No comments about Hip Hop Reader, The (A Longman Topics Reader) (Longman Topics Series).

5 comments about The Billboard Book of Top 40 R and B and Hip-Hop Hits.

1. Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.



2. Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.



3. Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.



4. I highly recommend this book to any fan of the music genres charted in Billboard's R&B Top 40. If you grew up on music like this, it's perfect for review during the years when you were in school--no matter if it was back in the 40s, 60s, 90s or 00s. You'll be surprised of all the music you have forgotten, you'll then find yourself looking for it to bring back fond memories.
   
   If, like me, you grew up during Hip-Hop's baby years (early 80s to early 90s), some great jams didn't make the top 40. Keep in mind that Hip-Hop from that period was not fully appreciated until recently, and Billboard recognized mostly Pop-Rap that crossed over like "Parents Just Don't Understand", "You Can't Touch This", "Wild Thing" or "Bust A Move" at that time. For those jams not on the list, you'll see the artist's music from the sophomore or third album (which happened to A Tribe Called Quest and Big Daddy Kane).



5. This book is an Essential as a Gift to a FAN(s) of These GENRES old & New.From the Ink Spots to Jermaine Jackson from Ja Rule & Ashanti to Ray Charles & Al Green this Books got'em All!Find Out How Successful in Sales & Airplay The Hits You Remember down to Your Bone Thugs N Harmony to Anita Bakers/Your Body+Soul.This Richly Illustrates in printed form some of the most premier recordings of pre-rock era soul to todays Rappers.Highly Qualified Purchasing Quotient & Highly Enjoyable esp4 Fans!

1 comments about On This Day in Music History: Over 2,000 Popular Music Facts Covering Every Day of the Year.

1. On This Day In Music History: Over 2,000 Popular Music Facts For Every Day Of The Year by six-time Grammy- winning music publisher and historian Jay Warner offers a chronological wealth of "bite sized" infobits on the men, women, companies, and inventions that compiled and assembled provide an inherently fascinating and wonderfully informative history of music in popular culture. From the installation of the first Jukebox at San Francisco's Royal Hotel in 1899, to the induction of Tina and Ike Turner into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 (with producer Phil Spector accepting the award in their absence), On This Day In Music History makes for informed and informative browsing. Presented in a calendar formate and enhanced with more than 180 black/white images, On This Day In Music History will prove a welcome and popular addition to personal and community library Music History Studies collections.

3 comments about Other People's Property: A Shadow History of Hip-Hop in White America.

1. I picked up this book because I like hip hop, but didn't really understand the incredibly interesting larger cultural and social context in which it arose and operates. Having read my fair share of books on jazz, I was concerned because I know authors can take great art forms and turn them into boring academic treastises. Thankfully, Jason Tanz has richly and engagingly captured an inner city art form and its often uncomfortable, yet strangely symbiotic, relationship with white middle America. Norman Mailer, Thoreau and Eminem all make an appearance as Tanz entertainingly traces the origins of hip-hop and the way it has influenced, but also been subverted by, the white audience and market.



2. OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY; A SHADOW HISTORY OF HIP HOP IN WHITE AMERICA could also have appeared in our 'Social Issues' section but is reviewed here for its focus on the obstacles that stand between producers and consumers of rap music: a very different approach than your usual music book covering the history of rap and the evolution of rapsters. It blends a personal story of growing up in a racially divided America with cultural analysis and music insights: while this approach might defy easy categorization, it does make for a hard-hitting analysis which will reach not only college-level collections strong in social issues and music, but the general-interest public and libraries with holdings strong in ethnic issues debates.



3. Hip-hop music, what some of us still think of as "rap," isn't easy to sort out these days. It seems to have invaded all aspects of life, even in the seemely far-removed and lilly-white suburbs.
   
   So what counts today as "authentic" hip-hop? Is it necessarily black? If it's commercialized to identify with a product, say Sprite, does that make the rapper a "sellout?"
   
   And if you're white, suburban and, say, over 35, what is hip-hop culture all about?
   
   These, it turns out, are exceedingly complicated questions.
   
   They cut deeply to the root of what was once a raw expression of black realism to a place where, even within hip-hop, debates rage. But Jason Tanz, a rap-loving white kids from suburban Tacoma, Wash., has some surprising and fascinating answers for you in this thoughtful book with a perfect title -- Other People's Property.
   
   Tanz takes us on an illuminating journey from rap's emergence among graffiti artists and break dancers on the streets of the Bronx, through his own experience as a sometimes guilt-ridden rap music lover cocooned in safe, white suburia, to today's wildy diverse and commercially bankable hip-hop scene.
   
   Tanz personal story will, in turns, make you cringe, laugh and cheer. But his look at rap's varied charecters is what will keep you turning the pages.
   
   There's Grandmaster Flash's Rahiem, an icon of rap's roots on New York City's rough streets, now a "Legends of Hip-Hop" tour guide busing white fans through the Bronx for $75 a pop. There's Papa Rich, an authentic NYC street performer who teaches break dancing to the wealthy suburban children of Connecticut's soccer moms. There's Tha Pumpsta, an earnest white rap lover who misses entirely the irony when he DJ's "kill whitie" parties in the Virginia suburbs. And there's MC Frontalot, a comical hip hop anti-hero who excites nerdy white fans with his brand of "Geeksta" rap.
   
   Tanz travels to Green Bay to explore a rap radio experiment in one of America's whitest cities and to a garage studio in suburban L.A. where a group of goofy white losers play act the part of black gangsters.
   
   More than anything, this is a smart book. The anecdotes carry the story, but Tanz peppers in sharp analysis and displays a deep understanding of the delicate balances -- and sometimes blatant contradictions -- of race, culture, commerce and sincerity (or a lack of it) in hip-hop.
   
   And if you ever wondered how we got here, to an America where hip-hop music and style dominate the mainstream, Tanz's book takes you through it all with both unblinking criticism and fond affection.
   
   In a brilliant chapter on the marketing of hip-hop, Tanz concludes rap has has the potential, perhaps untapped, to be a cultural bridge between white and black America:
   
   "Inner city black kids, seeking a modicum of respect and financial security, create a point of entry into the commerical world that has ignored them for so long. We white kids, drawn to the implicit escape that their music and lifestyles represented, bought it. Hip-hop is where we meet, we on our way out of the system, they on their way in. Is hip-hop a door that swings open between our two cultures, letting us mix freely with each other, or is it a revolving door, endlessly spinning, allowing us to pass in opposite directions without ever actually touching?"