Leading authorities write on the complex--and sometimes controversial--history, politics, and culture of rap and hip hop

"It is the undisputed word, the perfect blend of truth with reality, the flyest and realest reading about the flyest and realest art. These essays are informational, readable, and necessary to correct the misunderstanding that sweeps the news." --Ishmael Butler (aka Butterfly), Grammy Award-winning artist, Digable Planets

Preface 1. The Rap Attack: An Introduction - William Eric Perkins Part I: Roots 2. Women Writin' Rappin' Breakin' - Nancy Guevara 3. Rap's Latino Sabor - Mandalit del Barco 4. Puerto Rico Rocks: New York Ricans Stake Their Claim - Juan Flores Part II: Genres 5. Kickin' Reality, Kickin' Ballistics: Gangsta Rap and Postindustrial Los Angeles - Robin D. G. Kelley 6. Making the Strong Survive: The Contours and Contradictions of Message Rap - Ernest Allen, Jr. 7. Who Wants to See Ten Niggers Play Basketball? - Armond White Part III: Flavas 8. Hip Hop 101 - Robert Farris Thompson 9. Dance in Hip Hop Culture - Katrina Hazzard-Donald 10. Hidden Politics: Discursive and Institutional Policing in Rap Music - Tricia Rose 11. Global Village: An Epilogue - William Eric Perkins About the Contributors