Status
Available
Call number
Publication
St. Martin’s Press
DDC/MDS
| 306.4842490973 |
Description
"The American Book Award winner, now completely adapted for a young adult audience! From award-winning author Jeff Chang, Can't Stop Won't Stop is the story of hip-hop, a generation-defining movement and the music that transformed American politics and culture forever. Hip hop is one of the most dominant and influential cultures in America, giving new voice to the younger generation. It defines a generation's worldview. Exploring hip hop's beginnings up to the present day, Jeff Chang and Dave "Davey D" Cook provide a provocative look into the new world that the hip hop generation has created. Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip hop's forebears, founders, mavericks, and present day icons, this book chronicles the epic events, ideas and the music that marked the hip hop generation's rise"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member stillatim
I found this a bit disappointing to be honest, but that's in large part because I was expecting something different. Chang doesn't really get into music/graffiti/lyrics/dancing very much at all; he does, though, do a great job of explaining the social context in which all that art was produced. So
That said, there are major flaws, starting with the fact that it's hard to read. Not because Chang doesn't write clearly, because he does. It's just *literally* hard to read; the font's a couple of pixels better than Comic Sans. Who in their right mind sets a book in a sans-serif font? Are the publishers trying to send a whole generation of readers blind? More importantly, Chang's incredible research - really, amazing - is undermined by an overly simplistic political frame, which you could pretty much describe as 'Fuck the Man.' Sometimes the Man has it coming. Sometimes whoever it is that isn't the man has to take some of the blame. But you'd never know that from this book; here it's *always* the Man's fault and His alone.
So there's a weird 90s vibe to the whole thing. In the Prelude Chang writes that 'Hip-Hop Generation' describes, among other things, "the turn from politics to culture." I have no idea what he was thinking when he wrote that, because his book is almost entirely about politics, activism, in particular. That makes the book tendentious: chapters on Public Enemy and (mid-period) Ice Cube, but nothing on ATCQ or any of the other late-80s early 90s geniuses? A chapter on The Source, but nothing on the indies that emerged after that magazine imploded? And, weirdest of all, chapters on the Million Man March and anti-Globalization protests, but only a passing mention of the incredible music of that time (Wu-Tang, for instance, is mentioned only as an antagonist of The Source's editorial crew, and in one line about nineties paranoia). Obviously this isn't because he doesn't know his stuff; he's forgotten more about hip-hop than I'll ever know (seriously, the man co-founded SoleSides. He knows his stuff). It's just that the book turns out to be more a history of many-raced activists, and has very little to say about music. Here's hoping he brings his writing style and impeccable research skills to a book about the music, graf, and dancing.
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keep in mind that that's what you're getting - a history of gang culture, youth politics and (most impressively) urban geography at the end of the twentieth century - and you'll probably enjoy the book. That said, there are major flaws, starting with the fact that it's hard to read. Not because Chang doesn't write clearly, because he does. It's just *literally* hard to read; the font's a couple of pixels better than Comic Sans. Who in their right mind sets a book in a sans-serif font? Are the publishers trying to send a whole generation of readers blind? More importantly, Chang's incredible research - really, amazing - is undermined by an overly simplistic political frame, which you could pretty much describe as 'Fuck the Man.' Sometimes the Man has it coming. Sometimes whoever it is that isn't the man has to take some of the blame. But you'd never know that from this book; here it's *always* the Man's fault and His alone.
So there's a weird 90s vibe to the whole thing. In the Prelude Chang writes that 'Hip-Hop Generation' describes, among other things, "the turn from politics to culture." I have no idea what he was thinking when he wrote that, because his book is almost entirely about politics, activism, in particular. That makes the book tendentious: chapters on Public Enemy and (mid-period) Ice Cube, but nothing on ATCQ or any of the other late-80s early 90s geniuses? A chapter on The Source, but nothing on the indies that emerged after that magazine imploded? And, weirdest of all, chapters on the Million Man March and anti-Globalization protests, but only a passing mention of the incredible music of that time (Wu-Tang, for instance, is mentioned only as an antagonist of The Source's editorial crew, and in one line about nineties paranoia). Obviously this isn't because he doesn't know his stuff; he's forgotten more about hip-hop than I'll ever know (seriously, the man co-founded SoleSides. He knows his stuff). It's just that the book turns out to be more a history of many-raced activists, and has very little to say about music. Here's hoping he brings his writing style and impeccable research skills to a book about the music, graf, and dancing.
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LibraryThing member laze
The first 200 pages cover hip-hop through 1982. I don't think any other book has given the early days (which began well before "Rapper's Delight") that much space.
465 pages of truly essential reading for anyone that considers themselves a "head." Chang does a phenomenal job of juxtaposing hip-hop
Great, in that it gives true historical and cultural context to the movement and albums that have shaped hip-hop over the last 30+ years. I look forward to seeing a follow-up in another 15 years.
465 pages of truly essential reading for anyone that considers themselves a "head." Chang does a phenomenal job of juxtaposing hip-hop
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and history, giving the music a context. My only complaint: it ends somewhat abruptly at the 2000 DNC protests. It's a good ending, mind you, but I felt like it snuck up on me.Great, in that it gives true historical and cultural context to the movement and albums that have shaped hip-hop over the last 30+ years. I look forward to seeing a follow-up in another 15 years.
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LibraryThing member lexrob
Of course it will resonate most with hip-hop fans, but Can't Stop Won't Stop is about far more than music. This is a compelling and enlightening take on hip-hop's roots and growth over the last 30 years.
LibraryThing member MissTrudy
This is one of the most comprehensive histories of Hip Hop, written by Hip Hop journalist and activist Jeff Chang. It has an introduction by Hip Hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc and it is a fascinating as well as an instructive read.
LibraryThing member amelish
I went to hear Jeff Chang and Toure speak at Housing Works Used Book Cafe, way back when Can't Stop Won't Stop came out. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, sort of unassuming. Not that this is relevant, necessarily. Plenty of great books written by assholes.
LibraryThing member chriszodrow
This is THE scoop on hip-hop. Chang does a wonderful job of tying it all together. If someone says they love hip-hop, just pop this open and start asking questions; this is the connoisseur's guide.
LibraryThing member winedrunksea
A great book I didn't want to end, and would have liked more about the emerging hip-hop centers of Atlanta and St. Louis, which were mentioned only in passing in the final chapter. But a great overview of not only the origins of hip hop but its role in the activism of the black (and Asian and
Original read in January 2011, re-read in May 2013
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Latino) communities. Original read in January 2011, re-read in May 2013
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LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
This was exactly what I was hoping it to be...touching on racial, gender, social, cultural, historical, political, and economic issues in addition to the development of the music itself. Exhaustive but only scratches the surface. So much of it kept me thinking, "The more things change..." and I
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can't help but hope for an update for everything that's happened since 2005. Show Less
LibraryThing member squealermusic
Nicely covers the social/political environment around the development of hip-hop, but starts to become focused on a select few artists (Public Enemy, N.W.A.) as the book goes on. By the end it's all social with little on the music. Still, a very good read and illuminating in showing how the times
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influenced the music and visa versa. Show Less
Original publication date
2005
ISBN
9780312425791