Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement
by S. Craig Watkins
List Price:
Our Price: $7.95
You Save: $8.05 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.55 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: S. Craig WatkinsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-15
ISBN: 0807009865
Number of pages: 295
Publisher: Beacon Press
Book Reviews of Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement
Book Review: Hip Hop, Indeed, Matters
Summary: 4 Stars
When comedian Michael "Kramer" Richards went on his infamous November 2006 `racial tirade'--spewing venomous racist epithets, notably the `n-word,' at two Black hecklers--an explosion of video downloading and heated debate ensued around the world. Within the Black community the `n-word' was once again put under our cultural microscope. Not only did we look to Black comedians and civic leaders like Rev. Jesse Jackson for guidance, we also looked to hip hop and our beloved rappers. Counsel was sought from various members of the hip-hop community, including the deceased where even Tupac's n-bomb-filled lyrics were scrutinized. If hip-hop's elite--the tastemakers and trendsetters known for perpetuating the use of the `n-word' in pop culture--could agree on the fate of the `n-word' the issue would be settled. Perhaps this assumption oversimplifies a complex debate, but it justifiably recognizes hip hop has a voice. Hip hop has power. Hip hop matters.
In his latest critical analysis of hip hop, Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement, author and associate professor S. Craig Watkins further advances this message of hip hop's importance and influence. Far from a dry chronology through the history of hip hop, Hip Hop Matters is a passionate study of hip hop's rise to power and what those within the movement and beyond have done (and in some cases, have not done) with that power. Watkins' well-executed mixture of hip-hop nostalgia and historical facts makes his text poised for recommended reading for both pop culture enthusiasts and hip-hop activists.
In Part One: Pop Culture and the Struggle for Hip Hop, Watkins illustrates how hip hop and its breakout star, rap music, went from underground obscurity in the late 70s to a dominant musical and cultural force by the late 90s. Rap quickly became an economic boon and hip hop was uprooted from the streets to corporate suites. Hip hop gained commercial success, but at what cost?
Part Two: Politics and the Struggle for Hip Hop unearths the more serious social responsibilities of hip hop and the inherent challenges of hip hop as a political movement. The hip hop movement includes people of all ages, races and economic standings--the very things that typically segregate people when it comes to politics. Hip hop does not have one voice, so ultimately, what causes does it speak for and on whose behalf? Hip hop continues to struggle with identity issues, including misogynistic lyrics and soft-core porn imagery that have become so customary of the genre.
Through it all, Watkins remains hopeful of hip hop's future. Hip hop is the music of the youth--influencing how they speak, dress, think and live. Watkins is confident that hip hop matters and will always matter because hip hop culture will continue to inspire youth to change their world.
Arts & Photography Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Books that caught my interest - but not enuff to go on my Wishlist
Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movementby S. Craig Watkins
Beacon Press; Published: 2006-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.98
Price in other shops:
The Vibe History of Hip Hopby Vibe Magazine
Three Rivers Press; Published: 1999-10-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.46
Price in other shops:
Double Cross (Alex Cross)by James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2007-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops:
Crossby James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2006-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.47
Price in other shops:
Outsiders Looking in: How to Keep from Going Crazy When Someone You Love Goes to Jailby Toni D. Weymouth, Maria Telesco
Olinc Pub; Published: 1998-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.59
Price in other shops:
Einstein: His Life and Universeby Walter Isaacson
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2007-04-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growthby Richard J. Foster
HarperSanFrancisco; Published: 1998-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.04
Price in other shops:
My Friend Leonardby James Frey
Riverhead Hardcover; Published: 2005-06-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.33
Price in other shops:
Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Liveby Martha Beck
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2002-01-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengthsby Tom Rath
Gallup Press; Published: 2007-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.49
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Womenby T. Sharpley-Whiting
NYU Press; Published: 2008-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.38
Price in other shops:
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Downby Joan Morgan
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2000-02-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America (Music/ Culture)by Tricia Rose
Wesleyan; Published: 1994-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
Home Girls Make Some Noise!: Hip-hop Feminism Anthologyby Gwendolyn D. Pough
Parker Publishing Llc; Published: 2007-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.20
Price in other shops:
The Hip Hop Wars: What We Talk About When We Talk About Hip Hop--and Why It Mattersby Tricia Rose
Basic Civitas Books; Published: 2008-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.17
Price in other shops:
Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hopby Jeff Chang
Basic Civitas Books; Published: 2007-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops:
Hip Hop Americaby Nelson George
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2005-04-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.98
Price in other shops:
Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hopby Imani Perry
Duke University Press; Published: 2004-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.39
Price in other shops:
That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Readerby Mark Anth Neal
Routledge; Published: 2004-09-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $36.86
Price in other shops:
Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generationby Jeff Chang, D.J. Kool Herc
Picador; Published: 2005-12-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.31
Price in other shops: