The Definitive List of Hip-Hop Books

Covering all genres of writing, this is the definitive list of hip-hop literature.

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101	Race Music: Black Cultures from Bebop to Hip-Hop (Volume 7) by Guthrie P. Ramsey Jr. 4.09 avg rating — 91 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
102	The Music Industry: Music in the Cloud by Patrik Wikström 4.04 avg rating — 47 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
103	Capturing Sound: How Technology Has Changed Music by Mark Katz 4.09 avg rating — 140 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
104	Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped by Dean Budnick 3.70 avg rating — 326 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
105	Free Ride: How Digital Parasites are Destroying the Culture Business, and How the Culture Business Can Fight Back by Robert Levine 3.59 avg rating — 307 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
106	The 21st Century Hip-Hop Minstrel Show: Are We Continuing the Blackface Tradition? by Raphael Heaggans 3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
107	Philosophy and Hip-Hop: Ruminations on Postmodern Cultural Form by Julius Bailey (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
108	Organic Globalizer, The: Hip Hop, Political Development, and Movement Culture by Christopher Malone (editor) 2.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 49, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
109	Know What I Mean? Reflections On Hip Hop by Michael Eric Dyson 3.83 avg rating — 384 ratings score: 48, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
110	Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing by Roni Sarig really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 93 ratings score: 47, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
111	The Hiplife in Ghana: West African Indigenization of Hip-Hop by Halifu Osumare 3.67 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 46, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
112	How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow and Delivery Techniques by Paul Edwards (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 134 ratings score: 45, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
113	Please Don't Bomb the Suburbs: A Midterm Report on My Generation and the Future of Our Super Movement by William Upski Wimsatt (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 91 ratings score: 44, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
114	The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument by KRS-One 4.14 avg rating — 224 ratings score: 43, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
115	The Tao of Wu by The RZA 4.07 avg rating — 5,440 ratings score: 41, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
116	The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop by Dan Charnas 4.35 avg rating — 1,197 ratings score: 40, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
117	Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hop by Imani Perry 4.07 avg rating — 180 ratings score: 39, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
118	Hip-Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap by Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar 3.98 avg rating — 107 ratings score: 37, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
119	Hip Hop in Houston:: The Origin and the Legacy by Maco L Faniel 3.35 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 36, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
120	Spectacular Vernaculars: Hip-Hop and the Politics of Postmodernism by Russell A. Potter 4.19 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 33, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
121	Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization by Ian Condry 3.49 avg rating — 111 ratings score: 32, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
122	The Hip-Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African-American Culture by Bakari Kitwana 3.83 avg rating — 302 ratings score: 31, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
123	The Hip-Hop Underground and African American Culture: Beneath the Surface by James Braxton Peterson 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 30, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
124	Groove Music: The Art and Culture of the Hip-Hop DJ by Mark Katz 4.29 avg rating — 42 ratings score: 28, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
125	Hip Hop's Inheritance: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Hip Hop Feminist Movement by Reiland Rabaka (Goodreads Author) 3.62 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 27, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
126	Rap and Hip Hop Culture by Fernando Orejuela 3.61 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 26, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
127	Hip Hop's Amnesia: From Blues and the Black Women's Club Movement to Rap and the Hip Hop Movement by Reiland Rabaka (Goodreads Author) 3.29 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 24, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
128	Hip Hop Desis: South Asian Americans, Blackness, and a Global Race Consciousness by Nitasha Tamar Sharma 3.80 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 23, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
129	Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop by Jeff Chang (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.11 avg rating — 187 ratings score: 22, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
130	Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--from Music to Hollywood by Terrance Dean 3.25 avg rating — 344 ratings score: 21, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
131	Atlanta: Hip-Hop and the South by Michael Schmelling really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 20, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
132	Stare in the Darkness: The Limits of Hip-hop and Black Politics by Lester K. Spence 3.88 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 15, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
133	Desi Rap: Hip-Hop and South Asian America by Ajay Nair 3.83 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 14, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
134	Hip-Hop Homophobes: Origin & Attitudes TowardsGays & Lesbians in Hip Hop Culture; As Perpetuated by Rappers, Thugs, Athletes, Reggae Rastas & Religionists; Essays ...Against Homosexuality; A Religious Hoax! by Khalil Amani liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 13, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
135	Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women by T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting 3.62 avg rating — 165 ratings score: 12, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
136	Back in the Days by Jamel Shabazz 4.55 avg rating — 194 ratings score: 11, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
137	Enter The Wu-Tang: How Nine Men Changed Hip-Hop Forever by Alan Charles Page 3.65 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 10, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
138	Rhymin' and Stealin': Musical Borrowing in Hip-Hop by Justin A. Williams really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 9, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
139	The Dirty Version: On Stage, In the Studio, and In the Streets with Ol' Dirty Bastard by Buddha Monk 3.48 avg rating — 232 ratings score: 8, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
140	Fear of a Hip-Hop Planet: America's New Dilemma by D. Marvin Jones 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 7, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
141	The Literary Genius of Lil Wayne: the case for Lil Wayne to be counted among Shakespeare and Dylan by Kreston Kent (Goodreads Author) 3.38 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 6, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
142	The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop by D.K. Publishing 3.95 avg rating — 38 ratings score: 5, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
143	The Truth Behind Hip Hop by G. Craige Lewis 4.38 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 4, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
144	Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop by Michael P. Jeffries 3.94 avg rating — 47 ratings score: 2, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
145	Hip Hop Underground: The Integrity and Ethics of Racial Identification by Anthony Kwame Harrison 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 1, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars