Hip Hop America | 
 enlarge | Author: Nelson George
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $8.34
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Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 44744
Media: Paperback
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0143035150
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.421649
EAN: 9780143035152
Publication Date: April 26, 2005
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Amazon.com Review
Although it's been part of the cultural soundscape for over 25 years, hip-hop has been the focus of very few books. And when those books do pop up, they tend to be either overtly scholarly, as if the writer in question has just landed on some alien planet, or a bit too much like a fanzine. If there's anyone qualified to write a solid, informative, and entertaining tome on the culture, politics, and business of hip-hop, it's Nelson George. A veteran journalist, George is one of the smartest and most observant chroniclers of African American pop culture. Much as he broke down and illuminated R&B with his acclaimed book The Death of Rhythm and Blues, George now tackles hip-hop with the clarity of a reporter and the enthusiasm of a fan--which is fitting, because George is both. A Brooklyn native, he began writing about rap back in the late 1970s, when the beats and the lifestyle were not only foreign to most white folks, they were still underground in the black communities. Hip Hop America is filled with George's memories of the scene's nascent years, and it tells the story of rap both as an art form and a cultural and economic force--from the old Bronx nightclub the Fever to the age of Puffy. Highlighting both the major players and some of the forces behind the scenes, George gives rap a historical perspective without coming off as too intellectual. All of which makes Hip Hop America a worthwhile addition to any fan's collection. --Amy Linden
Product Description
Now with a new introduction by the author, Hip Hop America is the definitive account of the society-altering collision between black youth culture and the mass media.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 A new Nelson George fan November 24, 1999
joby (illadelph halflife)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
I read Hip Hop America. Not because I had ever heard of Nelson George or heard of his credits. Because I saw it, flipped a few pages and decided to read it. I loved it. I have been listening to hip hop music since the first time i spun Schooly D's PSK track. And Nelson George hits the nail on the head. he covers almost everything i could have wanted, although I would have liked more coverage on Tribe Called Quest and De La Sould as opposed to so much NWA material. What I liked best is how George is neither a critic or a fan (excluding PE of course). He's just an inside observer. He doesnt take many bias opinions, he just presents them. And the way he picks on not only hip hop culture, but things that affected hip hop and what hip hop has affected. Examples are Blaxploitation movies and Basketball in the 80's and 90's. If anyone is a smart hip hop fan then I recommend this book. I'm not talking about people who buy whatever is cool now (if you have a puff daddy album or a bel biv devoe album but dont listen to it anymore than i dont recommend this book), I'm talking straight up real hip hop fans. I also dont recommend this book for people who are trying to learn about hip hop. its gonna be like a foreign language. so give this book a try
I rate it 6 out of 5 stars! A must-read!!! October 28, 2003
HipHopKosova (Kosova/Kosovo)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Of all the Hip Hop related works that I've read (and that's many), none can reach the insightful level of Nelson Georges's "Hip Hop America", which not only covers the history of the culture, but more importantly, delivers the sociological aspects of it, explaining not only "when", but also "how" and "why". It made me an instant fan of Nelson George. It's a very informative, sincere and to some extent analytical book, with plenty of facts and informations and first-hand experiences from the man "who has not only witnessed the evolution of hip-hop, but who. . . has had a hand in shaping it, as well." (The New York Times Book Review).
I could really write a long review for this great book, but I'll probably do that after my second reading, which starts NOW!
inside story of hip hop business June 29, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've listed to hip hop music for 16 years and Nelson George filled in all the blanks of things I wish I understood better. From the internal conflict at the Source magazine, to the story of several hip hop producers including Puff Daddy, Teddy Riley, and Dr. Dre as well as the record execs behind the scenes like Andre Harrell, etc...Nelson George covers it all. I loved this book. It does not describe hip hop as a dance or an artist or a song, but as the cultural phenomenon it has become.
An Intellectual Analysis From a B-Boy's Point of View April 12, 2002
Doug Mellow
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
One of America's foremost hip-hop journalists, this book is essential to understanding both the positives and negatives of hip-hop music in both its past and present forms. George displays an excellent knowledge of both street and music industry politics in discussing a musical genre all too commonly lacking enough intellectualism. Understandable for everyone from the button down white collar worker of Wall Street to the average street thug, this book is recommended reading for both those knowledgable with hip-hop and those who are not.
Smart and insightful June 7, 1999
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
As an "old-schooler" who's not always crazy about the music (harder stuff anyway) but appreciate the generationality of it all, George has written a no-bs history of a still-evolving music/culture that's here to stay. It's lively with some great behind-the-scene stories and a lot of history. And, it's NOT dry or dull. It's a must read for any "new-schooler" and any one with an open mind, regardless of age. He's respectful, opinionated and thorough... yet objectively critical. That's the way the story of rap/hip-hop SHOULD be told.
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