Things That You Can Learn from Rappers

"Things That You Can Learn From Rappers" is about how rappers influence hip-hop culture through their lyrics and lives. The book is also about hip-hop culture itself. While a lot of rappers get characterized by their hedonism, through lyrical analysis and a little bit of history, this book shows how rappers often promote the positive aspects of hip-hop culture. The positive aspects that the book out lines are pride, sense of community, self definition, motivation, the obsession with realness, an understanding of women (which is rarely positive), friends, family, the game that life is, the importance of culture and having fun. The book concludes with a few things that hip-hop teaches us that aren't so healthy. The book differs from a lot of other books about hip-hop because it doesn't try to be overly academic. In the language and themes, it keeps the hip-hop ethos alive. It is an academic work which means it does get philosophical at times but it never loses the easy to feel tone of a rap song. This would be a good book for people from outside of the culture because it explains quite a few things about hip-hop and rap music that some people might find senseless or difficult to explain. It would also be a good read for old-school hip-hop fans that miss some of the things that the culture used to provide before rap got so commercial. Included, after most chapters, are playlists that drive home the points that each chapter was making. It would be a great way for people to get introduced to more cultural rap music. Classes are springing up that teach an understanding of hip-hop and this is great learning tool for those that want to know what this hip-hop thing is all about and why rappers and their fans behave and think the way they do.