Somebody Scream!: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power - Softcover

Reeves, Marcus

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0865479976 ISBN 13: 9780865479975

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2009

Synopsis

"A strong and timely book for the new day in hip-hop. Don't miss it!"--Cornel West

For many African Americans of a certain demographic the sixties and seventies were the golden age of political movements. The Civil Rights movement segued into the Black Power movement which begat the Black Arts movement. Fast forward to 1979 and the release of Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." With the onset of the Reagan years, we begin to see the unraveling of many of the advances fought for in the previous decades. Much of this occurred in the absence of credible, long-term leadership in the black community. Young blacks disillusioned with politics and feeling society no longer cared or looked out for their concerns started rapping with each other about their plight, becoming their own leaders on the battlefield of culture and birthing Hip-Hop in the process. In Somebody Scream, Marcus Reeves explores hip-hop music and its politics. Looking at ten artists that have impacted rap--from Run-DMC (Black Pop in a B-Boy Stance) to Eminem (Vanilla Nice)--and puts their music and celebrity in a larger socio-political context. In doing so, he tells the story of hip hop's rise from New York-based musical form to commercial music revolution to unifying expression for a post-black power generation.

About this title

About the Author

Marcus Reeves has covered youth culture and politics for over fifteen years, in publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Vibe, and The Source. He is the author of Somebody Scream! Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power.

Edition details

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0865479976
• ISBN 13: 9780865479975
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 338