Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop
Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop | Jonathan Abrams
2 posts | 2 read | 4 to read
The essential oral history of hip-hop, from its origins on the playgrounds of the Bronx to its reign as the most powerful force in pop culture--from the award-winning journalist behind All the Pieces Matter, the New York Times bestselling oral history of The Wire "The Come Up is Abrams at his sharpest, at his most observant, at his most insightful."--Shea Serrano, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hip-Hop (And Other Things) ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Spin The music that would come to be known as hip-hop was born at a party in the Bronx in the summer of 1973. Now, fifty years later, it's the most popular music genre in America. Just as jazz did in the first half of the twentieth century, hip-hop and its groundbreaking DJs and artists--nearly all of them people of color from some of America's most overlooked communities--pushed the boundaries of music to new frontiers, while transfixing the country's youth and reshaping fashion, art, and even language. And yet, the stories of many hip-hop pioneers and their individual contributions in the pre-Internet days of mixtapes and word of mouth are rarely heard--and some are at risk of being lost forever. Now, in The Come Up, the New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Abrams offers the most comprehensive account so far of hip-hop's rise, a multi-decade chronicle told in the voices of the people who made it happen. In more than three hundred interviews conducted over three years, Abrams has captured the stories of the DJs, executives, producers, and artists who both witnessed and themselves forged the history of hip-hop. Masterfully combining these voices into a seamless symphonic narrative, Abrams traces how the genre grew out of the resourcefulness of a neglected population in the South Bronx, and from there how it flowed into New York City's other boroughs, and beyond--from electrifying live gatherings, then on to radio and vinyl, below to the Mason-Dixon Line, west to Los Angeles through gangster rap and G-funk, and then across generations. Abrams has on record Grandmaster Caz detailing hip-hop's infancy, Edward "Duke Bootee" Fletcher describing the origins of "The Message," DMC narrating his role in introducing hip-hop to the mainstream, Ice Cube recounting N.W.A's breakthrough and breakup, Kool Moe Dee recalling his Grammys boycott, and countless more key players. Throughout, Abrams conveys with singular vividness the drive, the stakes, and the relentless creativity that ignited one of the greatest revolutions in modern music. The Come Up is an exhilarating behind-the-scenes account of how hip-hop came to rule the world--and an essential contribution to music history.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
fredthemoose
post image
Bailedbailed

I had such high hopes for this book, but instead of weaving together one cohesive narrative it‘s like 80% just a series of quotes from interviews. I wanted the content, but was too annoyed by the format to stick with it. Maybe it would be better as a physical book than on audio.

58 likes1 stack add
blurb
Chelleo
post image

If you love hip hop this is a must read! Be warned it‘s a BAB (big ass book) but it‘s a great, detailed walk down memory lane for those of us that have hip hop as our life‘s soundtrack. #Blitsy

The_Book_Ninja Have you read Hip Hop America by Nelson George? I read it in ‘99 and there was more history yet to be made in Rap and Hip Hop but it‘s such a good read for a look at rap up to that time 11mo
Chelleo @The_Book_Ninja I‘ve read George but I‘m pretty sure I have not read that. Will check it out! 11mo
The_Book_Ninja @Chelleo cool! Well great review, Just ordered this book. Thank you 11mo
Chelleo @The_Book_Ninja Nice! Hope you like it! 11mo
54 likes4 stack adds4 comments