Best of
Hip-Hop

2009

The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument


KRS-One - 2009
    Set in the format of the Christian Bible, this 800-plus-page opus is a life-guide manual for members of Hip Hop Kulture that combines classic philosophy with faith and practical knowledge for a fascinating, in-depth exploration of Hip Hop as a life path. Known as “The Teacha,” KRS ONE developed his unique outlook as a homeless teen in Brooklyn, New York, engaging his philosophy of self-creation to become one of the most respected emcees in Hip Hop history. Respected as Hip Hop’s true steward, KRS ONE painstakingly details the development of the culture and the ways in which we, as “Hiphoppas,” can and should preserve its future. "The Teacha" also discusses the origination of Hip Hop Kulture and relays specific instances in history wherein one can discover the same spirit and ideas that are at the core of Hip Hop’s current manifestation. He explains Hip Hop down to the actual meaning and linguistic history of the words “hip” and “hop,” and describes the ways in which "Hiphoppas" can change their current circumstances to create a future that incorporates Health, Love, Awareness, and Wealth (H-LAW). Committed to fervently promoting self-reliance, dedicated study, peace, unity, and truth, The "Teacha" has drawn both criticism and worship from within and from outside of Hip Hop Kulture. In this beautifully written, inspiring book, KRS ONE shines the light of truth, from his own empirical research over a 14-year period, into the fascinating world of Hip Hop.

Foundation: B-Boys, B-Girls, and Hip-Hop Culture in New York


Joseph G. Schloss - 2009
    Widely - though incorrectly - known as breakdancing, it is often dismissed as a form of urban acrobatics set to music. In reality, however, b-boying is a deeply traditional andprofoundly expressive art form that has been passed down from teacher to student for almost four decades. Foundation: B-boys, B-girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York offers the first serious study of b-boying as both unique dance form and a manifestation of the most fundamental principles of hip-hopculture. Drawing on anthropological and historical research, interviews and personal experience as a student of the dance, Joseph Schloss presents a nuanced picture of b-boying and its social context. From the dance's distinctive musical repertoire and traditional educational approaches to itscomplex stylistic principles and secret battle strategies, Foundation illuminates a previously unexamined thread in the complex tapestry that is contemporary hip-hop.

The Tao of Wu


The RZA - 2009
    Part chronicle of an extraordinary life and part spiritual and philosophical discourse, The Tao of Wu is a nonfiction Siddhartha for the hip-hop generation-an engaging, seeking book that will enlighten, entertain, and inspire.The legions of Wu-Tang fans are accustomed to this heady mix-their obsession with the band's puzzlelike lyrics and elaborate mythology has propelled the group through fifteen years of dazzling, multiplatform success. In his 2005 bestseller The Wu-Tang Manual, the RZA provided the barest glimpse of how that mythology worked. In The Tao of Wu, he takes us deep inside the complex sense of wisdom and spirituality that has been at the core of his commercial and creative success.The book is built around major moments in the RZA's life when he was faced with a dramatic turning point, either bad (a potential prison sentence) or good (a record deal that could pull his family out of poverty), and the lessons he took from each experience. His points of view are always surprising and provocative, and reveal a profound, genuine, and abiding wisdom-consistently tempered with humor and peppered with unique, colloquial phraseology. It is a spiritual memoir as the world has never seen before, and will never see again.

The Truth Behind Hip Hop


G. Craige Lewis - 2009
    In this book, speaker and author Elder G. Craige Lewis uses the light of God's word to reveal hip-hop subculture for the destructive force it is. As you read, you will understand that more than a music style, hip-hop is a way of life that is leading a generation to hell. From eyewitness accounts, to powerful biblical teaching, this book will empower you not only to walk in freedom, but to also set others free. For Speaking Engagements Contact: EX Ministries 817-764-3025 or visit us on the web at: Email: info@exministries.com www.exministries.com

The Rapper's Handbook: A Guide To Freestyling, Writing Rhymes, And Battling (By Flocabulary)


Emcee Escher - 2009
    Flocabulary gets your rhymes to the next level. From wordplay to punchlines, from metaphors to multisyllable rhymes, The Rapper's Handbook covers all the crucial elements of freestyling, writing rhymes and battling. Each chapter features lyrical examples and advice from professional rappers. Lyrics are analyzed under a microscope to figure out exactly how the best emcees craft their lines. Written by the creators of Flocabulary, whose innovative hip-hop has been featured in press throughout the world, the tips in this book have helped thousands of emcees gain the confidence and skills to rock the microphone.

Sento: The Fantastic Partners


KET - 2009
    From New York s trains to billboards, from highways to freight trains and even going as far as traveling around the world painting, as a Bronx native he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a style writer and bomber. His style has influenced writers across the globe in cities like Madrid, Paris, Helsinki, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam. His style is unbeatable and he is truly one of the world s best.

Graffiti Kings: New York City Mass Transit Art of the 1970's


Jack Stewart - 2009
    This rare, firsthand account of the birth of this movement is the first and only graffiti book to reveal what happened behind the scenes when writers put their lives on the line to grab a piece of fame from a faceless urban landscape.Through personal interviews and over 275 full-color, previously unpublished photographs, the colorful origins of subway graffiti are brought to life. Legends such as Taki 183, Blade 1, Phase 2, and Co-Co 144, as well as the city officials who saw the writers as public menaces and their art as vandalism, give accounts of everyday struggles, each full of new advancements, excitement, and risk. Although author and photographer Jack Stewart maintained a low profile at the time, his work is now a graffiti-world legend: rumored to exist, seldom seen, a near-equivalent to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Alongside archival photographs of everything from vibrant bubble-letter and 3-D pieces to the Holy Grail, the whole-train pieces, are maps, images, and ephemera that help fill out the complete story. A celebration in words and pictures of graffiti's golden age, Graffiti Kings is a book sure to be coveted by those fascinated and inspired by this uniquely American urban art form.

It's Just Begun: The Epic Journey of DJ Disco Wiz, Hip Hop's First Latino DJ


Ivan Sanchez - 2009
    By conquering unimaginable obstacles, Wiz offers inspiration to anyone who has ever wondered, “Why me?”