Reading the first four entries-“Paula Abdul,” “Above the Law,” “Herb Abramson,” “a cappella”-we cover most of the historical time frame this book represents.

But it is also instructive simply to read through a few entries in succession. Encyclopedias are, of course, especially useful in directing us to a particular topic. Because chronological sequence is not a factor, we wander as through a museum, forming our own impressions of the connections among the things we observe. From this leveled landscape, a reader is often led to unlikely observations of affinity and confluence among the encyclopedia’s disparate entries. The only organizing narrative force is the alphabet. Signal feature of any encyclopedia is its presentation of the elements of a historical mosaic unassembled. University at Albany (SUNY)Īppendixes 293 Glossary of Music Terms 305 Further Reading and Research 313 Editorial Board of Advisers 317 Index 319 In THE HIP HOP WARS, Rose shows that hip hop has become the primary means by which we talk about race and culture in the United States-and the conversations surrounding it deserve attention.Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-Hop Frank Hoffmann Foreword by Albin J. As a result, the most visible and most widely consumed hip hop sets forth a troubled vision of ghetto street life that not only defines young, already at-risk, black men and women to each other, but defines them to a large white audience as well, one which comprises 70% of hip hop consumers. and 50 Cent-who sell the most records and, therefore, dominate the recording industry, TV, film, and radio. While 'conscious rappers' such as Talib Kweli and The Roots may receive enormous critical acclaim, it's the rappers who employ what Rose calls the 'gansta-pimp-ho trinity'-rappers like T.I. Rose argues that the music that most embodies the hallmarks of gangsta rap- drug dealing, sexual excess, rogue capitalism and distorted, violent portraits of black masculinity-now dominates the airwaves and the media. THE HIP HOP WARS What we talk about when we talk about hip hop - and why it matters.

Download free hip hop wars