Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Hip Hop Culture. By Emmett G. Price. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC*CLIO, 2006. 1 vol. 348 p. $85.00. ISBN 1-85109-867-4.

Exploring and understanding the Hip Hop culture may help youth today better understand the reasons for rap music beyond the beat. The disenfranchised youth in the 60s and 70s who invented Hip Hop did so to escape gang warfare. Through determination, creativity, and pride, they were able to better themselves. Hip Hop has grown through a number of transitions into a multibillion-dollar industry. The student researching Hip Hop here will find basic terms and concepts and a wide variety of resources to help with the study. Understanding the use of this culture by companies such as Coca-Cola, Nike, Pepsi and Gap, may help students recognize e strength of image and begin to understand why this has become the voice of youth throughout the world. Today's rap music has become a part of advertising designed to gather in the lucrative teen market. Beginning with the history of the rise and spread of Hip Hop, the elements are given. Issues are discussed and an explanation of the spread of Hip Hop to a Global audience. A 35-page chronology begins in 1965 and ends in 2005 with the execution of the co-founder of the Crip gang. Groups as well as individuals are found in the 47 biographical sketches which often have a web address with their entry. Black and white photographs illustrate much of the text. A section on figures, tables, and documents show dollars spent in various categories, pie charts show radio listeners, and awards winners are named with the dates of the award. Selected organizations are listed with their addresses and web sites. The 60-page annotated bibliography includes print and non-print resources with websites. Appendix A lists 30 influential Hip Hop albums and Appendix B lists 50 singles. This new entry covers the topic well.