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The Rap Year Book

The Most Important Rap Song From Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed
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( 4,741 ratings, 375 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
The Rap Year Book by Shea Serrano journeys from 1979, the year rap entered cultural prominence, to the present, spotlighting the most important rap songs annually. It explores the backgrounds of artists, key historical moments, racial issues, the rise of hip-hop, and major personal and professional rivalries. Featuring infographics, lyric maps, artist portraits, and essays by music writers, this illustrated guide offers a comprehensive narrative of rap's most iconic and influential tracks.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4499
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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?

This book is ideal for fans of hip-hop and rap music, cultural historians, and readers interested in music history and cultural studies. It appeals to those seeking both a detailed and entertaining exploration of the genre's evolution and influence.

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An informative, illustrated guide to the 35 of the most important rap songs ever released

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 Bestseller - Washington Post Bestseller - Pitchfork Book Club selection.

The Rap Year Book takes readers on a journey that begins in 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap became recognised as part of the cultural and musical landscape, and comes right up to the present. Shea Serrano deftly pays homage to the most important song of each year. Serrano also examines the most important moments that surround the history and culture of rap music—from artists' backgrounds to issues of race, the rise of hip-hop, and the struggles among its major players—both personal and professional.

Covering East Coast and West Coast, famous rapper feuds, chart toppers, and show stoppers, The Rap Year Book is an in-depth look at the most influential genre of music to come out of the last generation. Complete with infographics, lyric maps, hilarious and informative footnotes, portraits of the artists, and short essays by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is both a narrative and illustrated guide to the most iconic and influential rap songs ever created.

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?

Praised as "the reading equivalent of rocking a boom box on your shoulder" (GQ) and "hip-hop's first official encyclopedia" (Global Grind), The Rap Year Book is acclaimed for its ambitious, humorous, and historically informed treatment of rap culture. Reviewers highlight its depth, personal insights, and unique format, calling it a must-read alongside classic hip-hop works (Esquire, PopMatters, BLOUIN ARTINFO).

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781419718182

Publisher: Abrams

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 October 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Abrams Image

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Arturo Torres
  • Foreword by Ice-T

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 190.0mm

Height: 228.0mm

Weight: 580g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Shea Serrano is an award-winning writer, author, and illustrator. His first book, Bun B’s Rap Coloring and Activity Book, was widely praised, receiving accolades from Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, Pitchfork, MTV, and more. He is a staff writer for Grantland.

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