Book cover of The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop

Book description

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…


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Why read it?

1 author picked The Come Up as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

For most of us, we’re fans of hip-hop but there’s something special hearing the story of hip-hop from the people who were actually there.

I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan but The Come Up takes me straight to the streets of New York City, Los Angeles, and beyond. The book draws on more than 300 interviews over three years including some of the originators of hip-hop including Grandmaster Caz, Run-D.M.C., Kool Moe Dee, and Ice Cube.

The vivid voices trace hip-hop’s history and offer insider access—whether you were there or just wish you were—to what really went on behind the…

From Sowmya's list on learning about hip-hop.

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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