When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill introduces young readers to the early days of Hip Hop through the story of DJ Kool Herc and the Bronx community that helped shape the culture. The book traces Herc’s journey from Jamaica to

Hip-Hop Is History by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson offers a comprehensive, personal, and analytical look at Hip Hop’s first 50 years. Writing from a unique insider’s perspective, Questlove blends major hits with overlooked records and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped

Will by Will Smith (with Mark Manson) is a candid memoir that traces his journey from West Philadelphia to global stardom across music, television, and film. Beyond the headlines, Smith confronts the trauma, fear, and insecurity that shaped his ambition. He reflects on his

I Am Hip Hop by Nicole Duncan-Smith introduces young readers to Hip Hop as a culture rooted in creativity, self-expression, and community. Through vibrant storytelling, the book affirms the core elements of Hip Hop and the values they carry—voice, confidence, and imagination.

Legends of Hip-Hop by Pen Ken celebrates Hip Hop history through illustration, beginning with portraits of 2Pac and Queen Latifah and expanding to other cultural icons. Illustrated by Saxton Moore, the book features detailed, stylized artwork that reimagines legendary figures

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane (co-authored with Neil Martinez-Belkin) is a candid memoir of rise, relapse, and reinvention. Gucci traces his journey from Alabama to East Atlanta, through addiction, incarceration, and loss into a

Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius by Rakim (with Bakari Kitwana) pulls back the curtain on the discipline, intention, and innovation behind one of Hip Hop’s most influential voices. Rakim reflects on writing, breath control, timing, and

From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens by 50 Cent (with kris ex) is a raw memoir of survival, ambition, and transformation. 50 Cent traces his life growing up in Southside Queens, moving through street life, near-death experiences, and the realities that

Hip Hop Family Tree (Vol. 1–4) by Ed Piskor presents a visual chronicle of Hip Hop’s formative years, tracing the culture from its Bronx origins through its early national rise. Told through illustrated storytelling and deep research, the series documents key figures, moments,

The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur is a collection of poetry that reveals the interior life behind one of Hip Hop’s most iconic voices. Written across Tupac’s youth and early adulthood, the poems grapple with love, rage, poverty, hope, and contradiction—capturing

Hip Hop America by Nelson George tracks Hip Hop’s rise through music, television, film, and advertising as it moved from the margins to the mainstream. George examines how rap reshaped American popular culture while exposing the pressures of visibility, commercialization, and

Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist by Sesali Bowen introduces trap feminism, a contemporary framework Bowen coined to interrogate where feminism and Hip Hop intersect. Blending searing personal essay with cultural commentary, the book examines sexism, fatphobia,

A Sacred Storm: When God Speaks through Radical Disruption by, Christopher Michael Jones, opens with his account of a divine encounter that radically altered the course of his life, framing disruption as both spiritual awakening and transformation. Drawing from his experience

We’re kicking off Know Ya Hip Hop: Black History Month by honoring the written word as a vital archive of Hip Hop culture. Scholarship documents, preserves, and legitimizes the lived experiences behind the culture, placing Hip Hop within historical, sociopolitical, and global