"There''s no one like Ahmir -- and there''s no one better to take us on this fun, informative journey through hip-hop''s evolution.''" --Michelle Obama "Chronicles the first 50 years of hip-hop through insightful and passionate analysis that celebrates the big-named artists who popularized the style, as well as those lesser-known creatives who quietly influenced rap''s rise. Along the way, he offers personal recollections about how the relatively young music style has shaped his identity. A must-read for old school hip-hop heads and burgeoning fans alike." --Shannon Carlin, Time Magazine "A wonderful ride, colored by personal digressions and crisp observations." --Dorian Lynskey, The Guardian "[Questlove] is an affable and expert tour guide through the annals of hip-hop, as adept at spinning yarns as he is at spinning records." --G''Ra Asim, The Washington Post "A trip worth taking. Questlove''s embedded narration of the infamous 1995 Source Awards .
shows the author at his storytelling best." --AD Carson, Los Angeles Times "[Questlove is] a major artist and a major fan. With co-author Ben Greenman, [he] covers 50 years of hip-hop with insight, passion and the geeky love of a true believer. Not to be missed." --Michael Giltz, Parade "Like a window looking deep into the workings of a pretty special hip-hop mind . Entertaining and authoritative . [Questlove] uses his knowledge and experience to his advantage in every way, bringing unique and fresh perspectives. His well-honed instincts are spot-on .
Immensely entertaining." -- Pop Matters "Hip-hop''s most accomplished musician on the musical masterpieces of hip-hop: this is the story Questlove was born to write. It''s as authoritative, as opinionated, as expansive--even his digressions have (amazing) digressions!--and as joyful as we have come to expect from him. If you''ve ever cared about this music, no matter what the era, you need this book on your shelf." --Jeff Chang, author of Can''t Stop Won''t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation and Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America Questlove is the rare history-maker in music with the ability to tell that history with gripping, personal prose and the perspective of a scholar. Hip-hop''s historian laureate, Questlove helped shape the genre''s critical beatdown as an artist, but writes about it with a scholar''s critical perspective. No figure so pivotal in a genre''s history has ever written so comprehensively and insightfully as its historian." --Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time and The Big Payback "A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form.
Questlove''s instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Questlove closely examines the social, political, and artistic factors contributing to hip-hop''s growth, many facets and styles, stars, controversies, innovations, and far-ranging influence. This is a must-read . Questlove''s illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert." -- Booklist (starred review) "A kaleidoscopic chronicle of hip-hop''s 50-year history. Throughout, Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop''s evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre''s turning points. an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) a scholar''s critical perspective.
No figure so pivotal in a genre''s histora scholar''s critical perspective. No figure so pivotal in a genre''s history has ever written so comprehensively and insightfully as its historian." --Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time and The Big Payback "A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form. Questlove''s instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Questlove closely examines the social, political, and artistic factors contributing to hip-hop''s growth, many facets and styles, stars, controversies, innovations, and far-ranging influence. This is a must-read . Questlove''s illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert." -- Booklist (starred review) "A kaleidoscopic chronicle of hip-hop''s 50-year history.
Throughout, Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop''s evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre''s turning points. an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) a scholar''s critical perspective. No figure so pivotal in a genre''s historenre''s turning points. an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) a scholar''s critical perspective. No figure so pivotal in a genre''s history has ever written so comprehensively and insightfully as its historian." --Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time and The Big Payback "A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form.
Questlove''s instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Questlove closely examines the social, political, and artistic factors contributing to hip-hop''s growth, many facets and styles, stars, controversies, innovations, and far-ranging influence. This is a must-read . Questlove''s illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert." -- Booklist (starred review) "A kaleidoscopic chronicle of hip-hop''s 50-year history. Throughout, Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop''s evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre''s turning points. an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) enre''s turning points.
an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) enre''s turning points. an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review).