The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed
By Kyle Jackson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Smart, funny, and informative chronology of rap history.
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What's the Story?
THE RAP YEAR BOOK traces the history of rap music by highlighting the most "important" song of each year, from rap's commercial debut in 1979 with "Rapper's Delight" all the way up through 2014's inescapable smash hit "Lifestyle" by Rich Gang. The list was determined solely by the opinion of the author, Pitchfork and Grantland contributor Shea Serrano, whose blog-happy, short-form style lends itself well to this brief but informative overview of pop culture's dominant force for more than 35 years.
Is It Any Good?
Hilarious anecdotes, insightful cultural commentary, and well-researched analysis are a constant throughout these colorful pages. The wry storytelling and silly lists (such as "Eminem Picks on People" and "DMX Death Threats by Type") are accompanied by goofy charts (such as a "Rap Rivalries" infographic and "Tupac & Biggie Timeline") and gloriously evocative caricatures of the rappers by illustrator Arturo Torres, whose imagery is essential to The Rap Year Book's appeal.
Serrano's anthology serves as an ideal, millennial-friendly introduction to the ethnomusicology of rap. Scores of influential songs are noted, recommended, and compiled in the index, offering the reader a path to further exploration and investigation of the deep annals of this authentically American art form.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about rap's progression from a completely underground, largely regional movement into a multibillion-dollar industry, popular throughout the world. What is it about the message and the music that resonate with people across generations and continents?
Is it fair to be critical of the misogyny, materialism, and violence depicted in rap songs while still being a fan and consumer of the music? At what point does the promotion of bad values begin to have a negative impact on the culture at large?
If you were making your own list of the most important rap songs (or pop or rock songs), what would be on it?
Book Details
- Author: Shea Serrano
- Illustrator: Arturo Torres
- Genre: Arts
- Topics: Arts and Dance , History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
- Publication date: October 13, 2015
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 24, 2015
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