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When it comes to music industry knowledge, it's a rare occurrence these days to hear someone say they learned something from a book. We have the internet and our smartphones to tell us everything we need to know about any possible topic. But the evolution of technology doesn't mean that you can't learn a wealth of practical information by reading the right books!
Hip-hop artists – like all artists – need to be properly equipped for what to expect in an industry that's full of high expectations, surprises, and business-minded folks who are either genuine or are merely trying to capitalize off your talent. If you do your research and read books like these five now before you get to a level where your schedule is jam packed with sessions and meetings, your music career will be better off in the long run.
1. The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, by Dan Charnas
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In The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, author Dan Charnas tells the story of hip-hop by following the almighty dollar, and the complicated relationship between the artist and industry professional. A 40-year adventure from the studios where the first rap songs were recorded to the rooms where historic label deals took place, The Big Payback tallies the list of who lost and who won in the hip-hop business over the years, and more importantly, why.
Charnas spent seven years working for Rick Rubin, legendary producer and cofounder of Def Jam Records, making his point of view more established than your standard hip-hop journalist. Possessing the storytelling ability to describe the day-to-day happenings of hip-hop as a business, all indie artists can learn from his exclusive narrative and will gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes after diving into his compelling stories.
2. The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song From Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed, by Shea Sherrano
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The most modern book published on our list, The Rap Year Book (a New York Times bestseller) has been widely publicized as one of the better hip-hop-focused books of the past several years. Authored by accomplished writer Shea Sherrano (formerly of Grantland), The Rap Year Book takes readers from 1979 and comes right up to the present, with Serrano showing no shortage of humor in discussing, debating, and analyzing the most important rap song year by year. Serrano also examines the most significant moments that surround both the history and culture of rap music, detailing the background of artists and sharing the struggles amongst the genre’s most well-known names.
Filled with infographics, lyric maps, amazing portraits of the artists, and guest appearance pieces by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is easy to read while simultaneously being an informative history of hip-hop’s foundation. You may think many music industry books are dry and outdated, but The Rap Year Book is the farthest thing from boring, and will also strengthen your backbone of hip-hop knowledge.
3. The Tao of Wu, by RZA
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Part memoir and part guide to spiritual enlightenment, RZA of the Wu Tang Clan shares lessons he's learned on his journey from the streets of Staten Island to being a globally recognized artist and actor. RZA is meticulous in the way he consumes information, and in The Tao Of Wu, he brings forth the wisdom he's acquired in the form of seven "pillars," each one being based on a life-changing moment he has experienced. Delivered in prose that allows you to absorb each word as if it were being softly spoken in your ear from a monk, The Tao Of Wu excels not only because it's profound, but also because it's honest and imparts lessons that everyone can learn from.
Hip-hop is a genre that can easily sway the mind into a life that's destructive and detrimental to one’s goals. Reading The Tao Of Wu provides you with firsthand knowledge of an artist who's walked different paths, but ultimately utilized his enlightenment to steer his life the right away and become a leader of one hip-hop’s most successful groups. If you ever feel like the vices of the industry are getting the best of you, this is the book to read.
4. Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas’s Illmatic, by Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzai
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While Illmatic wasn’t widely publicized when it was released in 1994, the classic album from Nas has long been considered as one of hip-hop’s greatest bodies of work. With contributions from some the genre’s most well-respected producers and engaging first-person explorations of his surrounding urban landscape, Nas nearly perfected the craft of emceeing on Illmatic, making it a pivotal album in the evolution of hip-hop. In Born to Use Mics, Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzai brought together a group of established critics (including Mark Anthony Neal, Marc Lamont Hill, and many others) to examine Illmatic song by song, with each writer evaluating an individual track from the album. While delving into the societal ramifications in each essay may be considered heavy reading, the reason this book is a must-read is because it outlines just how powerful your lyrics can be.
Born To Use Mics can teach you how to craft an album that will stand the test of time, leading to conversation that you may have never even imagined. If you're an indie hip-hop artist who takes pride in your lyricism and how your art form can leave a major impact on all kinds of listeners, you'll certainly benefit from reading this examination of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated albums.
5. Decoded, by Jay Z
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One of the more well-known hip-hop books of the past five years, Decoded is the story of Jay Z, one of the world’s most famous rappers. A candid memoir of a man who grew up selling drugs in the projects of Brooklyn and became this generation’s most successful dual artist/businessman, Decoded strikes a chord with virtually all hip-hop fans. But more than just an autobiography, Decoded is a personal homage to hip-hop and a rare invitation into unexpectedly deep meanings behind some of Jay Z’s most quoted rap lyrics.
Between its unconventional design to photographs that visually emphasize the fact that Jay Z’s lyrics should not be half-heartedly categorized, Decoded is a raw and compelling look inside the mind of a man who changed the genre as we know it. While it may be hard to relate to the life of present-day Jay Z, Decoded is packed with knowledge that can help you grow as an artist, because it focuses on the drive and passion necessary to give your art the opportunity to flourish.
Eric Bernsen is a marketing/public relations professional and music journalist who specializes in the genre of hip-hop. You can find more of his work at HITPmusic.com (where he is an editor/writer) as well as HipHop-N-More.com, where he contributes album reviews. Follow Eric on Twitter @ebernsen.
