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Music Is History

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( 5,246 ratings, 794 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Music Is History by Questlove explores the intersection of music and American history from the 1970s to the present. The book delves into how pivotal songs and trends reflect societal changes and events, offering an insightful perspective on the cultural impact of music across decades. Questlove combines his personal reflections, in-depth research, and broad musical knowledge to create a narrative that highlights the transformative power of music in shaping history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in exploring the rich interplay between music and history from the perspective of an artist deeply embedded in both realms. With engaging storytelling and personal insights, the author connects significant cultural and historical events to the evolution of music, making it a fascinating read for anyone passionate about how music both reflects and shapes society.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New York Times bestselling Music Is History combines Questlove’s deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past fifty years—now in paperback.

Focusing on the years 1971 to the present, Questlove finds the hidden connections in the American tapes, whether investigating how the blaxploitation era reshaped Black identity or considering the way disco took an assembly-line approach to Black genius. These critical inquiries are complemented by his own memories as a music fan and the way his appetite for pop culture taught him about America.

A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, Music Is History is a singular look at contemporary America.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Music Is History by Questlove is praised for its engaging and insightful exploration of American culture and history through the lens of music. The book is described as entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking, with an analysis that delves deeply into music's impact on personal and cultural histories. Reviewers highlight Questlove's witty and authoritative narrative, which combines creative storytelling with a broad knowledge of musical history. It's a resonant and intellectually stimulating read that appeals to music enthusiasts and deep thinkers alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781419758836

Publisher: Abrams

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 November 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Abrams Image

Contributors:

  • With Ben Greenman

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and member of the Roots, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this five-time Grammy Award–winning musician’s indisputable reputation has landed him musical-directing positions with everyone from D’Angelo to Eminem to Jay-Z. Questlove has also released multiple books, including the New York Times bestsellers Mo’ Meta Blues and Creative Quest, the Grammy-nominated audiobook Creative Quest, Soul Train: The Music, Dance and Style of a Generation, James Beard Award–nominated somethingtofoodabout, and Mixtape Potluck Cookbook.
Questlove and Black Thought of the Roots have executive produced the acclaimed documentary series Hip-Hop: The Songs That Shook America on AMC under their production company, Two One Five Entertainment. He made his directorial debut with the acclaimed feature documentary Summer of Soul, which explores the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The film premiered on the opening night of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in January, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for Best U.S. Documentary. The film broke the record for the highest-selling documentary to come out of Sundance when it was acquired by Searchlight/Hulu.
Questlove has cemented himself as one of the most sought-after DJs in pop culture, with a resume that includes gigs for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the White House, Cartier, and hotels and nightclubs around the world. After streaming nearly three hundred virtual DJ sets in 2020, he has used this momentum to launch his own Twitch show called GO DJ, which champions sets from renowned international peers.
Additionally, Questlove served as the executive music producer and composer on the A&E Miniseries Roots. He also scored Chris Rock’s film Top Five and coproduced the Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton. Questlove also hosts his own acclaimed podcast, Questlove Supreme, on iHeart. Questlove costarred in Disney Pixar’s Golden Globe-winning animated feature Soul, which landed him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.

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