Hip-Hop Is History

Questlove radiates passion, knowledge, wit and profundity as he reflects on this ever-evolving art form * GUARDIAN *
A must-read for old-school hip-hop heads and burgeoning fans alike * TIME *
Hip Hop is not History, it's Our story. Brilliant book * CRAIG CHARLES *
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 -- DORIAN LYNSKEY * OBSERVER *
Sharp insights . . . 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 *
Engaging and deeply knowledgeable * BUZZ *
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] is an affable and expert tour guide through the annals of hip-hop, as adept at spinning yarns as he is at spinning records * WASHINGTON POST *
A trip worth taking. Questlove's embedded narration of the infamous 1995 Source Awards . . . shows the author at his storytelling best * LA 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 *