Hip-Hop Books to Read To Celebrate Hip Hop History

The 50^th anniversary of hip-hop has come and gone. The music genre is still young and many of the pioneers are alive and well. And they have written books that recount the history of hip hop and the ones who helped make hip hop what it is today. These are the hip-hop books to read to celebrate hip-hop history!

From the biggest rappers to ever pick up the microphone to some of the best producers ever, this list contains some of the best books about hip-hop. You will learn and read stories that otherwise would never have been discovered by you.

We hear about how hip-hop was founded from many sources but rarely from the ones that were there. It may not feel like it but hip-hop is still a young and fresh new genre of music that is everchanging.

Many influential people that helped create hip-hop will be unknown to many. But when you read these stories, you will find that many people that work in hip-hop or cover it have not forgotten them. From Jonathan Abrams recounting the oral history of hip-hop with interviews with many of the pioneers of hip-hop to Rakim’s firsthand accounts, these are the books to you need to check out.

Hip-Hop Books to Read

• The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop by Jonathan Abrams
• Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop by Adam Bradley
• LL COOL J Presents The Streets Win: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Greatness by LL Cool J, Vikki Tobak, and Alec Banks
• Can’t Stop Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang (with an introduction by DJ Kool Herc)
• Hip-Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap by Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar
• The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop by Clover Hope and illustrated by Rachel Baker
• The History of Hip Hop by Eric Reese
• Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas
• Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius by Rakim
• Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture by Mickey Hess
• God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop by Kathy Iandoli
• Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop by Vikki Tobak and forward by Questlove

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