Download or read book Decoded written by Jay-Z and published by One World. This book was released on 2010-12-07 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time. Praise for Decoded “Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author’s own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times “One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.”—The New Yorker “Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.”—Los Angeles Times “A riveting exploration of Jay-Z’s journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.”—The Boston Globe “Shawn Carter’s most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating.”—Entertainment Weekly “Hip-hop’s renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Download or read book How to Rap written by Paul Edwards and published by Chicago Review Press. This book was released on 2009-12 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A complete guide to the art and craft of the MC, anyone who's serious about becoming a rapper should read this first."--Hip Hop Connection magazine "A clever breakdown of the art form of hip-hop rhymes ... It's about time someone actually recognized this powerful music for its artistic integrity." -Speech, Arrested Development Examining the dynamics of hip-hop from every region and in every form-mainstream and underground, current and classic-this compelling how-to discusses everything from content and flow to rhythm and delivery. Compiled from the most extensive research on rapping to date, this first-of-its-kind guide delivers countless candid and exclusive insights from more than 100 of the most critically acclaimed artists in hip-hop-including Clipse, Cypress Hill, Nelly, Public Enemy, Remy Ma, Schoolly D, A Tribe Called Quest, and will.i.am-revealing the stories behind their art and preserving the genre's history through the words of the legends themselves. Beginners and pros alike will benefit from the wealth of rapping lore and insight in this remarkable collection."--

Download or read book I Am a Strange Loop written by Douglas R. Hofstadter and published by Basic Books (AZ). This book was released on 2007-03-27 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Argues that the key to understanding ourselves and consciousness is the "strange loop," a special kind of abstract feedback loop that inhabits the brain.

Download or read book Rap on Trial written by Erik Nielson and published by The New Press. This book was released on 2019-11-12 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A groundbreaking exposé about the alarming use of rap lyrics as criminal evidence to convict and incarcerate young men of color Should Johnny Cash have been charged with murder after he sang, "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"? Few would seriously subscribe to this notion of justice. Yet in 2001, a rapper named Mac whose music had gained national recognition was convicted of manslaughter after the prosecutor quoted liberally from his album Shell Shocked. Mac was sentenced to thirty years in prison, where he remains. And his case is just one of many nationwide. Over the last three decades, as rap became increasingly popular, prosecutors saw an opportunity: they could present the sometimes violent, crime-laden lyrics of amateur rappers as confessions to crimes, threats of violence, evidence of gang affiliation, or revelations of criminal motive—and judges and juries would go along with it. Detectives have reopened cold cases on account of rap lyrics and videos alone, and prosecutors have secured convictions by presenting such lyrics and videos of rappers as autobiography. Now, an alarming number of aspiring rappers are imprisoned. No other form of creative expression is treated this way in the courts. Rap on Trial places this disturbing practice in the context of hip hop history and exposes what's at stake. It's a gripping, timely exploration at the crossroads of contemporary hip hop and mass incarceration.

Download or read book The Anthology of Rap written by Adam Bradley and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2010-11-02 with total page 1191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the school yards of the South Bronx to the tops of the "Billboard" charts, rap has emerged as one of the most influential cultural forces of our time. This pioneering anthology brings together more than 300 lyrics written over 30 years, from the "old school" to the present day.

Download or read book MFA Vs NYC written by Chad Harbach and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2014-02-25 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Writers write—but what do they do for money? In a widely read essay entitled "MFA vs NYC," bestselling novelist Chad Harbach (The Art of Fielding) argued that the American literary scene has split into two cultures: New York publishing versus university MFA programs. This book brings together established writers, MFA professors and students, and New York editors, publicists, and agents to talk about these overlapping worlds, and the ways writers make (or fail to make) a living within them. Should you seek an advanced degree, or will workshops smother your style? Do you need to move to New York, or will the high cost of living undo you? What's worse—having a day job or not having health insurance? How do agents decide what to represent? Will Big Publishing survive? How has the rise of MFA programs affected American fiction? The expert contributors, including George Saunders, Elif Batuman, and Fredric Jameson, consider all these questions and more, with humor and rigor. MFA vs NYC is a must-read for aspiring writers, and for anyone interested in the present and future of American letters.

Download or read book A Man of His Word written by Dave Duncan and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2017-07-11 with total page 1960 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A young couple battles forces determined to keep them apart in this high fantasy series by “one of the leading masters of epic fantasy” (Publishers Weekly). These four fantasy novels of love and adventure follow the exploits of childhood friends Inos and Rap as their feelings are tested by the direst of circumstances. But while abduction, magic, and imprisonment conspire to separate them, the two remain steadfast in their determination to be together. Magic Casement: Inos enjoys an idyllic childhood with her friend Rap, but friendship between a princess and a stable boy can never be simple. Soon, they are thrust into adulthood and a magical world full of infinite surprises. Faery Lands Forlorn: When Inos is abducted through the magic casement and Rap tries to follow her, they arrive in two very strange new lands. With Rap in Faerie and Inos in Zark, they are at opposite ends of the world, but that doesn’t stop the young stable boy from heading to Zark to rescue his princess. And Inos is equally determined to head home to Krasnegar to claim her kingdom. Perilous Seas: Hunted by the fearsome warlock wardens who rule the world, Inos is convinced that Rap has died. Little does she know, he is alive and, with the aid of his magic wand, trying to bring happiness to his beloved queen. But when the evil Nordland raider, Kalkor, arrives in port, Rap’s plans begin to fall apart. Emperor and Clown: With Inos married to the wrong man and Rap dying in a dungeon, their cause seems hopeless. Only Aunt Kade refuses to admit defeat. Taking events into her own hands, she knows exactly the five men she can coerce into helping her . . .

Download or read book The Rap Year Book written by Shea Serrano and published by Abrams. This book was released on 2015-10-13 with total page 639 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times–bestselling, in-depth exploration of the most pivotal moments in rap music from 1979 to 2014. Here’s what The Rap Year Book does: It takes readers from 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap became recognized as part of the cultural and musical landscape, and comes right up to the present, with Shea Serrano hilariously discussing, debating, and deconstructing the most important rap song year by year. Serrano also examines the most important moments that surround the history and culture of rap music—from artists’ backgrounds to issues of race, the rise of hip-hop, and the struggles among its major players—both personal and professional. Covering East Coast and West Coast, famous rapper feuds, chart toppers, and show stoppers, The Rap Year Book is an in-depth look at the most influential genre of music to come out of the last generation. Picked by Billboard as One of the 100 Greatest Music Books of All-Time Pitchfork Book Club’s first selection

Download or read book Houston Rap Tapes written by Lance Scott Walker and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2019-01-29 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The neighborhoods of Fifth Ward, Fourth Ward, Third Ward, and the Southside of Houston, Texas, gave birth to Houston rap, a vibrant music scene that has produced globally recognized artists such as Geto Boys, DJ Screw, Pimp C and Bun B of UGK, Fat Pat, Big Moe, Z-Ro, Lil’ Troy, and Paul Wall. Lance Scott Walker and photographer Peter Beste spent a decade documenting Houston’s scene, interviewing and photographing the people—rappers, DJs, producers, promoters, record label owners—and places that give rap music from the Bayou City its distinctive character. Their collaboration produced the books Houston Rap and Houston Rap Tapes. This second edition of Houston Rap Tapes amplifies the city’s hip-hop history through new interviews with Scarface, Slim Thug, Lez Moné, B L A C K I E, Lil’ Keke, and Sire Jukebox of the original Ghetto Boys. Walker groups the interviews into sections that track the different eras and movements in Houston rap, with new photographs and album art that reveal the evolution of the scene from the 1970s to today’s hip-hop generation. The interviews range from the specifics of making music to the passions, regrets, memories, and hopes that give it life. While offering a view from some of Houston’s most marginalized areas, these intimate conversations lay out universal struggles and feelings. As Willie D of Geto Boys writes in the foreword, “Houston Rap Tapes flows more like a bunch of fellows who haven’t seen each other for ages, hanging out on the block reminiscing, rather than a calculated literary guide to Houston’s history.”

Download or read book Emperor and Clown written by Dave Duncan and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2014-04-01 with total page 570 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The saga of Inos and Rap comes to its thrilling conclusion in the final Man of His Word novel from “one of the leading masters of epic fantasy” (Publishers Weekly). While Queen Inos and her new husband, the cursed Sultan Azak, head to the capital city to beg the emperor’s aid, Rap is imprisoned and tortured in the sultan’s dungeons. But a third magic word gives him power beyond his wildest dreams, allowing him to escape. Struggling with his newfound abilities—and his feelings for Inos—he follows after her. With his faithful companions, Rap will find himself battling old enemies, fulfilling prophecies, and navigating the empire’s politics, forging his own destiny as one of the most feared men in the kingdom. “If it’s traditional fantasy adventure with a bit of nudge-nudge wink-wink you’re after, Dave Duncan is your go-to guy. ”—SFReviews.net “Duncan takes all the trusted fantasy ingredients, meticulously prepares them and brings them together with skill and relish. . . . The series bears resemblance to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy.” —Fantasy Book Review “Duncan’s unique concept of goblins, fauns, and imps adds a new twist to this imaginative fantasy adventure. Recommended.” —Library Journal

Download or read book Bad Rap written by Lynn Townsend and published by JMS Books LLC. This book was released on 2024-04-06 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spin-off of the Rainbow Connection trilogy David Pritchard loved his wife with everything he had. Sarah was sexy and smart and incredibly competent in her position as a political fundraiser, and did he mention sexy? It was worth mentioning twice. David had never in his life been happier than he was married to Sarah. And then everything fell apart. Sarah had been killed, and David was the primary suspect. David would mourn for her for the rest of his life. But with Sarah dead and her killer still on the loose, just how long was the rest of his life going to be?

Download or read book Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary written by Chuck D and published by KingDoMedia. This book was released on with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The power is in the mic, and the power has been unleashed in clubs, arenas, stadiums, stages, and parks all over the planet. MC's are able to connect with its audience in a way that the music alone cannot. Hip Hop, via the MC, has undoubtedly become the voice of a new generation. Much attention has been paid to the staggering impact hip hop music and culture has had on the greater American and world cultures; its influence on fashion, television, advertising, and the attitudes of the world’s youth. However, not nearly as much attention has been paid to the social and political impact that the art form and its artists have had. Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary is designed to transcend rap and venture into the realm of offering commentary and analysis into some of the deeper aspects of life itself. As one of rap’s preeminent political and social groups of all time, front man Chuck D offers direct explanations and interpretations of what his lyrics are about as a tool to help set minds free in this "hustle and flow and get rich or die tryin times." Chuck D — consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all time — will provide insight in the creation of Hip-Hop iconic albums 1988’s “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and 1990’s “Fear of a Black Planet”, both recognized among the greatest politically charged albums of all time featuring rap classics such as "Fight the Power," "Don’t Believe The Hype," "Can’t Truss It," and "Welcome to the Terrordome." As Chuck D explains, "We must remain mindful that there’s a road to freedom, and resist the embarrassingly popular trend that ignorance and a ghetto mentality, which is cast upon us, is our only food for thought or food for non-thought. As MC's we must become more responsible and revolutionary in our approach, because we have young people around the globe listening to our every word and watching our every step." Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary: Times, Rhymes & Mind of Chuck D will clarify, in a way similar to when a person rereads a book ten years after originally reading it, and allow for a deeper understanding and further insight into the thoughts behind classic and controversial Public Enemy lyrics. Admirers proclaimed him the Bob Dylan or Bob Marley of rap. -- Los Angeles Times One of the most politically and socially conscious artists of any generation? -- Spike Lee Chuck D is the greatest voice in Hip Hop history as far as social commentary and rhymes for the upliftment of Black people. Chuck D is in a league of his own. -- Kool Moe Dee

Download or read book Odd Partners written by Mystery Writers Of America and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2019-04-23 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unlikely pairs join forces to crack a slew of intriguing cases in an anthology edited by New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry, featuring original stories by Jacqueline Winspear, Jeffery Deaver, Allison Brennan, Charles Todd, and many more, including Perry herself. Throughout the annals of fiction, there have been many celebrated detective teams: Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Nick and Nora Charles. Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings. Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. That last pair is the creation of beloved mystery writer Anne Perry, who, as the editor of Odd Partners and in conjunction with Mystery Writers of America, has enlisted some of today’s best mystery writers to craft all-new stories about unlikely duos who join forces—sometimes unwillingly—to solve beguiling whodunits. From Perry’s own entry, in which an English sergeant and his German counterpart set out to find a missing soldier during World War I, to a psychological tale of an airplane passenger who wakes up unsure of who he is and must enlist his fellow passengers to help him remember, to a historical mystery about a misguided witch-hunt and the unlikely couple that brings it down, each story deals in the wonderful complexities of human interactions. And not just human interactions: Honey bees avenge the death of their beekeeper, a wandering cat brings home clues to a murder, and a gray wolf and a fly fisherman in the Minnesota woods try to protect their land from a brash billionaire. Featuring work by New York Times bestselling authors, Edgar Award winners, and up-and-coming members of the Mystery Writers of America, these tales of friends, enemies, and pairs who lie somewhere in the middle will satisfy every type of mystery reader. With each author’s signature brand of suspense, these stories give new meaning to the word “teamwork.” Featuring stories by: Ace Atkins • Allison Brennan • Shelley Costa • Jeffery Deaver • Robert Dugoni • William Frank • Georgia Jeffries • Lou Kemp • William Kent Krueger • Joe R. Lansdale • Lisa Morton • Claire Ortalda • Anne Perry • Adele Polomski • Stephen Ross • Mark Thielman • Charles Todd • Jacqueline Winspear • Amanda Witt

Download or read book The Weird Sister Collection written by Marisa Crawford and published by Feminist Press at CUNY. This book was released on 2024-02-13 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Collecting the best of the underground blog Weird Sister, these unapologetic and insightful essays link contemporary feminism to literature and pop culture. Launched in 2014, Weird Sister proudly staked out a corner of the internet where feminist writers could engage with the literary and popular culture that excited or enraged them. The blog made space amid book websites dominated by white male editors and contributors, and also committed to covering literary topics in-depth when larger feminist outlets rarely could. Throughout its decade-long run, Weird Sister served as an early platform for some of contemporary literature’s most striking voices, naming itself a website that “speaks its mind and snaps its gum and doesn’t apologize.” Edited by founder Marisa Crawford, The Weird Sister Collection brings together the work of longtime contributors such as Morgan Parker, Christopher Soto, Soleil Ho, Julián Delgado Lopera, Virgie Tovar, Jennif(f)er Tamayo, and more, alongside new original essays. Offering nuanced insight into contemporary and historical literature, in conversation with real-life and timely social issues, these pieces mark a transitional and transformative moment in online and feminist writing.

Download or read book Still Life written by Val McDermid and published by Grove Atlantic. This book was released on 2020-10-06 with total page 371 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Scottish police inspector deals with forgeries and false identities in a new murder mystery in the “superior series” (The New York Times). When a lobster fisherman discovers a dead body in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, DCI Karen Pirie is called into investigate. She quickly discovers that the case will require untangling a complicated web—involving a long-ago disappearance, art forgery, and secret identities—that seems to surround a painter who can mimic anyone from Holbein to Hockney. Meanwhile, a traffic accident leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a suburban garage. Karen has a full plate, and it only gets more stressful as the man responsible for the death of the love of her life is scheduled for release from prison, reopening old wounds just as she was getting back on her feet. From a Diamond Dagger Award winner and multiple Edgar Award finalist, Still Life is a tightly plotted mystery featuring an investigator “whose unwavering confidence is tempered by a strong dose of kindness and sense of justice” (Booklist). “There are few other crime writers in the same league.”—Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post

Download or read book From Black Power to Hip Hop written by Patricia Hill Collins and published by Temple University Press. This book was released on 2006-01-19 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A provocative analysis of the new contours of black nationalism and feminism in America.

Download or read book Black Bear Outlaws Box Set Books 1 3 written by Deanna Chase and published by Bayou Moon Press, LLC. This book was released on with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Meet the Doucets in the Black Bear Outlaws Trilogy: Cyrus He’s loved her since they were kids… Cyrus Doucet used to be the bad boy, the one all the girls wanted…all of them except one, the girl next door. He’s everything she says she doesn’t want… Claire Erickson’s always been the good girl…until now. She’s in trouble and the only person she can turn to is her outlaw neighbor, Cyrus Doucet. Chase She’s exactly what he’s looking for… Chase Doucet knows what he wants. He’s a man who lives his life on the edge, and as far as he can see, so does Katrina Craig. One way or another, he’s determined to have her. He’s her match in every way but one… Katrina Craig has finally found the man and adventure she’s been looking for. But when life throws her a curve ball, suddenly she’s got a secret that could ruin everything. Cole He’s a man in danger of losing his self-control… Cole Doucet has a job to do. Protect the starlet at any cost. But who’s going to protect her from him? She’s a woman in danger of losing her heart… After a crazed stalker forces Amberly Matthews to leave Hollywood and her life in the public eye, she counts down the days until she can be back on the set. But when trouble follows her to Bayou Basin, she’s once again thrust into danger—and the arms of Cole Doucet. *Formerly published under the pen name Kenzie Cox*