By Daniela Capistrano, with additional reporting by
Rob Fields
KRS-One once said, "Rap is something you do. Hip-hop is something you live."
Since founding Boogie Down Productions in the mid-1980s and incorporating Jamaican melodies that continue to influence rhyming styles today, the artist has embodied hip-hop expression in all forms. Influencing artists from Rage Against the Machine to Sublime, KRS has supported the culture for more than 20 years, including founding the Stop the Violence Movement and lecturing at more than 500 colleges, universities and other venues.
Now, the Teacha is ready to share his 20-plus years of knowledge with "The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument."
Once a homeless teen who witnessed hip-hop's birth in the projects of the South Bronx, the young MC drew from this life-altering experience to form his philosophy of self-creation. The 818-page book will be the first in a series from the I Am Hip Hop imprint with PowerHouse Books, set for launch in September.
(Check out photos from KRS' performance at the I Am Hip Hop release party.)
In the introduction for "The First Instrument," KRS answers the question of why "it's important to know hip-hop." Encouraging readers to explore what they can do without technological assistance, the artist challenges: "How human do you remain in a society where we can't even live without technology? Hip-hop reminds us of our humanity." Read more...
By Daniela Capistrano
Prince fans have something new to look forward to this month: His first official book!
"21 Nights", a photographic essay about the singer's European tour last summer, co-created with photographer Randee St. Nicholas, is a lavish collection of photos, poetry and music that offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of the world's biggest stars.
The singer performed two intimate benefit shows in New York on Friday night to help promote the book's release.
Fans can peruse more than 100 never-before-published images from his sold-out 21 concerts while listening to Indigo Nights/Live Sessions, the exclusive CD that is included with the book and features 15 live recordings along with one new song. The 77-minute CD attempts to invoke the spirit of his raw after-show sessions while providing a soundtrack for the reader. Fans can follow Prince on his journeys through London and Prague, sharing in escapades with his band of musicians, singers and dancers captured in full color and black and white. The book provides an intimate look at what life on the road is like for one of music's biggest stars — from the frenetic pace backstage to his solitary moments in hotel rooms.
Juxtaposed within these scenes readers will also find poetry written by Prince, pieces that touch on a multitude of inspirations: love, the nature of desire, our current political climate, the price of fame and more. The poetry provides a dreamlike narrative that borders on stream-of-consciousness and is, not surprisingly, similar in theme to the lyrics of many of his songs.
Check out our sneak peek at five images from "21 Nights" after the jump!
Read more...
First the sad news: It looks like the world may never get to read the debut novel by Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown’s autobiography, "Broken Silence."
OK, there's no good news, at least not for the female MCs, both of whom were sued by publisher Simon & Schuster on Thursday over advances for books they never delivered.
This whole thing got us thinking: What might the title of Kim’s novel have been? "Bee Stings"? "Mafia Queen"? What about an updated name for the Foxy memoir? "Nailed It"? "Na Na Hey Hey"?
What do you think the books should have been called?
