For fans of: hip hop, rap, music history
How can you capture the entire 50-year history of hip-hop in roughly 300 pages? All the artists, all the albums, all the performances… It just can’t be done. No way. You could easily utilize 100 pages per decade… Yet, Questlove, with the assistance of Ben Greenman, has compiled all he has learned from the genre into just that in Hip-Hop is History.
The book opens with the chaos that surrounded the Hip-Hop 50 Grammy tribute in 2023. Questlove was in charge of assembling the performers, but more importantly, he was responsible for taking 50 years of history and showcasing it in the span of 13 minutes. Needless to say, it was stressful, to the point where one of his own teeth fell out after all was said and done.
With that, we grasp that this book will only cover so much, and Questlove even makes it clear that an entire re-telling of the history of hip-hop is impossible. However, he does his best to explain hip-hop in the way that he sees it, from breaking down the history into five year time periods (because, according to Questlove, the genre changes every five years) to highlighting key moments that define the genre. In the end, we are left with not only a better understanding of hip-hop but also with the freedom to choose what the genre means to us as well.
After establishing that the “birth of hip-hop” is considered to be in 1973, Questlove takes us to 1979, where he first heard “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang, beginning his relationship with hip-hop. The records he collected were an extension of his enthusiasm and appreciation for the genre, and the songs that he came across influenced the way he lived his life. It’s refreshing to hear a first-hand account of the creation and dispersion of hip-hop, where Questlove chooses the songs that he heard at the time to better explain its history. Instead of stating facts about key songs that were released, for instance, he gets into the natural unfolding of the genre, which is a more honest and relatable way of doing so.
He then describes the way that pop culture and hip-hop started to merge. We learn about various “beefs” within the industry, brand association, and lyrical commentary on society, which imply that hip-hop was more than just music – it was a way of life. Questlove burns through a variety of songs, albums, and artists in each chapter, and it was at this point in the book that I wished I was more familiar with the genre. It was cool to learn how things were connected.
The last few chapters focus on the lingering questions and concerns that Questlove has for the genre. There are times when he doesn’t know where he stands with hip-hop and other times when he doesn’t know where hip-hop is headed. With factors like streaming and politics having more of an influence on the genre, hip-hop can either evolve with the times or fall off and become irrelevant. Questlove explains, “We are always trading for the future, never quite understanding the terms of the negotiation.” In other words, society is always pushing for more, when we don’t fully know if “more” is necessary. He just hopes that whatever we move toward in the future will not erase hip-hop from history.
After quite a creative and interesting epilogue that explores a fantasy about the state of hip-hop in 50 years, Questlove provides readers with a generous list of the hip-hop songs he listens to today.
If anyone got lost along the way with the references that were made throughout the book, or meant to look up a song and forgot what it was, they will be able to find some of those here. The book then comes full-circle as Questlove shares what it was like to put together a two-hour special for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop that aired in December of 2023. While there was as much drama as there was when putting together the segment for the Grammys earlier that year, Questlove confirms that all the madness is worth it – because hip-hop is history.
Overall, Hip-Hop is History is an enjoyable, informative ride through the past 50 years of hip-hop. If someone had to tackle such a project, it had to be Questlove. He does a great job in giving readers a well-rounded history of the genre, as he walks them through his personal experiences but also gives readers valuable facts and information that are in-line with a professor of hip-hop, one who has studied the genre very thoroughly. Those who might not know the genre as well could have some trouble appreciating the albums mentioned or the key moments that were highlighted, but all in all, the importance of hip-hop is very much preserved – and, from my understanding, that is the main point of the book. There is also room for readers to make their own history with hip-hop going forward, one that is as deep and as rich as the one Questlove has with the genre himself.
Purchase your copy of Hip-Hop Is History by Ben Greenman and Questlove, here.
