The Concise Guide to Hip-Hop Music by Paul Edwards

The Concise Guide to Hip-Hop Music: A Fresh Look at the Art of Hip-Hop, from Old-School Beats to Freestyle Rap by Paul Edwards

ST. MARTIN'S GRIFFIN | FEB 2015

PAPERBACK | 240 PAGES | 6" x 1" x 9"

A whip-smart, fact-packed, succinct overview to one of the world's most influential music genres, from its major jumping-off points through its surge onto the mainstream music scene.
In 1970s, music was forever changed by the emergence of hip hop. Masterfully blending the rhythmic grooves of funk and soul with layered beats and rhymes, artists like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash championed the way for an entirely new genre and generation of musicians.
In this comprehensive & accessible guide, PAUL EDWARDS breaks down the difference between old school and new school, recaps the biggest influencers of the culture, and sets straight the myths and misconceptions of the artists and their music. Fans old and new alike will all learn something new about the history and development of hip hop, from its inception up through the current day.

“Combining Edwards's critical insight with stories from the people who lived it, The Concise Guide to Hip-Hop Music not only informs, it challenges a number of popular notions about this thing called rap, including some of my own. As KRS-One said, ‘You must learn.'" —Jordan Ferguson, author of J Dilla's Donuts

“Part oral history, part investigative nitty-gritty, Paul Edwards' The Concise Guide to Hip-Hop Music answers the questions left obscured by the large and growing literature on the genre. From the very origins of the word to its worldwide word-up, this is the essential guide for both the hip-hop buff and the hopelessly baffled.“ —Roy Christopher, author of The Medium Picture

PAUL EDWARDS is a writer and researcher of hip-hop who has interviewed more than 100 rappers and has done extensive research on rappers' creative processes, musical theories, and lyrics. He is regarded as a leading expert on hip-hop and rap, and has been referred to as 'the Aristotle of Hip-Hop poetics' by internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet Dana Gioia. He holds a master's degree in postmodernism, literature, and contemporary culture from University of London.