The History of Hip Hop

Graffiti art. DJ battles. This is the story of hip hop's cultural revolution.

Hip-hop exploded from simmering inner-city streets into chart-topping beats and rhymes in the pivotal 1980s. Fusing raw social commentary with bold vision, rap music evolved from underground rebel to global phenomenon.

In "History of Hip Hop: Volume 2", author Eric Reese chronicles the iconic artists, albums, and events that shaped rap's Golden Age. Journey through hip-hop's coming of age from old school jams to new school innovation. Learn how rap spread like wildfire from the Bronx while visionaries like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, and N. W. A created controversy by keeping it real.

The book dives deep on major influences - from DJs sampling beats to MCs flowing socially-conscious lyrics. . . from breaking and spray can street art to fresh urban fashion and cinema. . . from Yo! MTV Raps to radio and vinyl spreading it worldwide. It also explores regional rivalries as hip-hop became big business on the East and West Coasts.

Experience the echoes of hip-hop's boombox era firsthand. Discover how the raw roots music of marginalized communities morphed into a creative juggernaut during a decade that changed music forever. See why 80s rap still provides the blueprint for hip-hop today.