This is a well‐written, informative encyclopedia that would sit well on any bookshelf and will appeal to readers of all ages. The A to Z format makes it easy to pick up and put down without losing your place. With short but informative biographies on almost all artists involved in this music genre since its birth, there is no need to follow any sequence when reading this book. The encyclopedia also includes a glossary of terms used in the rap and hip hop scene that will be helpful to anyone that knows little about this fast growing culture.
The introduction was a real eye‐opener to a reviewer whose knowledge of this genre came from MTV, the news and a mix CD of MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice! It hadn't even occurred to me that rap and hip hop were two separate entities, let alone that they had a history beyond the early 1980s. Yvonne Bynoe has included the perfect amount of history and trivia without losing the reader in what is undoubtedly a vast collection of cultures and races coming together through music.
But it's not just music – elements of ancient African and Asian martial arts became break dancing or “B‐Boying”. Racial minorities in Philadelphia used spray paints to make themselves heard, and graffiti was born. Not to mention the development of DJing or MCing. After reading the introduction I had a whole new respect for all artists in this ever‐expanding phenomenon.
What started out as a way to reduce street violence by releasing tensions through competition has become a multi‐billion dollar industry leading to artists having their own clothing and record labels. The only unfortunate thing that I learned while reading this book was that the purpose of this culture has not remained the same through the 30‐odd years of its existence. Instead of competing against each other through lyrics and dance moves as intended, artists have reverted to using guns and other weapons, resulting in the deaths of several brilliant and young talents. News coverage often tells of shootings at concerts or celebrity appearances and some artists boast the number of gunshot wounds they have survived. What sort of example does this set to a generation who live in a world where it is increasingly easy to get your hands on a gun?
Another good thing about this encyclopedia is that it details artists that have stuck to the roots of their culture. For an industry that is regularly blamed for youth crime, this encyclopedia brings to light the good in all of the bad. As Bynoe states, there is not currently one source that combines all elements of this culture. We can all read snippets from magazines and newspapers or go to the cinema to see a rapper's version of his/her life story, but where do we go to hear the good stuff? The answer is here in this book.
For any reader, this book will provide an insight into exactly what it says in the title. Bynoe has not written this book to a target audience but rather to a general one, making it an easily readable reference title. Put it on your coffee table or book shelves and I bet the most unexpected will pick it up.
