Hip-Hop Is History

Hip-Hop Is History melds a detailed chronological retelling of the genre's story with occasionally hair-raising memoir * Guardian *
A must-read for old-school hip-hop heads and burgeoning fans alike * Time *
Nobody knows more about hip-hop, and perhaps popular music in general, than Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson...a wonderful ride, coloured by personal digressions and crisp observations * Observer *
Sharp insights...[an] engaging chronology...entertaining * Financial Times *
Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop's evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre's turning point...It's an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved * Publishers Weekly *
A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form...[Questlove's] observations spanning the entirety of hip-hop's history are consistently illuminating... [His] instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special * Kirkus Reviews *
Hip Hop is not History, it's Our story. Brilliant book. * Craig Charles *
Engaging and deeply knowledgeable * Buzz Magazine *
This is a must-read for music lovers, cultural history buffs, and hip-hop fans... Questlove's illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert * Booklist *
The musician and Oscar-winning director traces the first 50 years of hip-hop... Questlove pairs the history of hip-hop with a personal reflection on how the genre shaped his identity during his childhood in Philadelphia * The Week *
Hugely readable...an encyclopaedic and idiosyncratic personal history of rap music now that it is more than 50 years old...[Questlove is] great at catching the sonic thrill and originality of the music. Nearly every page will have you jumping onto YouTube just to listen to the tunes he's talking about * Herald *
With Questlove, his world is wrapped up in that history. So you get the story mixed with his personal experience. It's also beautifully written * Moonbuilding *
Questlove radiates passion, knowledge, wit and profundity as he reflects on this ever-evolving art form * Guardian *
[Questlove] is an affable and expert tour guide through the annals of hip-hop, as adept at spinning yarns as he is at spinning records * The Washington Post *
A trip worth taking. Questlove's embedded narration of the infamous 1995 Source Awards . . . shows the author at his storytelling best * Los Angeles Times *

[Questlove is] a major artist and a major fan. With co-author Ben Greenman, [he] covers fifty years of hip-hop
with insight, passion and the geeky love of a true believer . . . Not to be missed

* Parade *
Like a window looking deep into the workings of a pretty special hip-hop mind . . . Entertaining and authoritative . . . [Questlove] uses his knowledge and experience to his advantage in every way, bringing unique and fresh perspectives. His well-honed instincts are spot-on . . . Immensely entertaining * PopMatters *