It's Not About a Salary... Rap, Race and Resistance in Los Angeles (Haymarket Series)

By Brian Cross

Book Overview

This photo-essay, coupled with oral histories, provides a map of the contemporary hip-hop nation in Los Angeles. Bracketed by introductory essays on the history and production of the music and a glossary, the book aims to engage with the citys rap scene on its own terms, with interviews and images, documenting its movements and influences, its leaders and up-and-comers. From its beginnings, Los Angeles has been a site of multiple voices, disputes and injustices. The history of rap in this city sets out to tell these stories, providing a voice first for African Americans then, through hip-hop, for many others. Artists interviewed include: Roy Porter; The Watts Prophets; Gill Scott Heron; Ice T.; Nefertiti; Ice Cube; DJ Quik; and Eazy E.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0860916200
• ISBN13: 9780860916208
• Release Date: December 1993
• Publisher: Verso
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 8.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Everything You Need To Know About LA Hip Hop

Simply put, there is no book like this about rap in Los Angeles. From KDAY to the Watts Prophets to Death Row, this book covers EVERYTHING you know about Hip Hop in LA, a story that is distinctly different from Hip Hop in New York. It features interviews with LA's biggest - Dre, Eazy, Cube, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, etc. - and leaves nothing out. This is a story that's rarely told, which is strange when one considers that LA rap was the force that mainstreamed Hip Hop. Hard to find, but a must have for any mainstream rap historian.

Cross' true picture of the development of westcoast rap.

I have to give it up to Brian for the very honest and understanding picture that he paints of the early to middle development of the westcoast hip hop scene. Through his interviews and writings, hip-hop fans get a real sense of how rap music developed on the west coast and they hear the stories directly from the artists themselves. This book is priceless and a definite must have for all music fans. In fact, somebody stole my only copy so I need to buy another one. Cli-N-Tel

I'm in this book

My bedroom in the Picture section LINK'S Room with the SP1200 from back in the daysWest Coast Style LINK

Due Props to MIKAH 9

Freestyle Fellowship's Mikah 9 is the preeminent freestyle rapper of all time. He is the John Coltrane of the modern era.