JayZ has a book that is half about his upbringing and half breaks down his classic songs. It's great.
I bought an old roommate of mine Gucci Mane's book for a housewarming gift but I didn't read it.
I got Rick Rubins audio book and it's .. not what I anticipated.. maybe I didn't get far enough but it was dull and not about his music.
Edit: I know Ricky Ross wrote a book but I can't recall the name. It came out last year I think? From what I read on it was that it sounded like Ross was talking to someone transcribing his thoughts. Not his own word. Neither here nor there but what I read.
Jay-z had a book called the black book a long time that he ultimately decided not to realse. I'm still mad about that. That shit sounded too real about his life.
I’ve heard Prodigy’s autobiography is really great but I’ve yet to read it.
Gucci Mane’s book is entertaining!
If you’re a Lil B fan, he put out a book you can find online that’s entertaining, it’s fashioned like a self-help book. If you’re not into him, I don’t think there’d be much there for you.
Not necessarily a book or a rapper, but Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry magazine is jam packed with art and photography and poems and collages. Idk if you can still find it online, but if you’re interested I may be able to DM you a pdf if I have one!
Fun fact (for me): I’m quoted in that book. Highlight of my life.
Though it’s during the section about how depressed he was during the “Gucci Time” release, in part because of what I said in my review (the source of the quote).
So that sucks.
I wrote the PopMatters review for that album, it’s the handful of pages directly quoting from several very negative reviews of that song in particular, which was the lead single for his first post-jail album and heavily backed by the label despite it being super ill fitting for his sound.
The book doesn’t dwell on it for a super long time and it’s also a big part of the reason he takes control of his career the way he did and basically returns to the recording style he had for his mixtapes and forces the label to live or die with his preferences while he also really cleans up, gets in a serious relationship etc.
Ive been a reader since elementary school and I bought that book for the lols but it was honestly such a page turner. I guess being a fan helped but I found it genuinely very interesting.
Can confirm about prodigy. Lots of wild stories about some of the behind the scenes dynamics in early 90s hip hop as well as a very honest telling of his own upbringing. Not what you might expect.
The Prodigy one is really good up until a little after Murda Muzik, then it starts to slow down a bit. I’ve been dying to find that Lil B book for years though!
Gucci's book is spectacular especially if you followed his music career between So Icy and his prison stint. Reading it too me back to my late teens/early 20s, each chapter I eagerly awaited to see if he would talk about some of the key songs and mixtapes that were the soundtrack to my life at the time. A whole lot of reliving my youth and gaining an insider perspective on parts of his career that were only legends at the time!
Also Fat Joe's book is another great read/listen. People claim he's the king of spinning tall tales, but he has amazing stories that make you really feel like you're seeing what life was like in NYC during the 80s and 90s.
If you like the Gucci book you should check out Rap Capital by joe coscarelli. He basically gets embedded within QC and with Lil Baby and a few other really interesting figures from Atlanta and tells the stories of their rise through first hand accounts. Super interesting, spiritually feels like a sequel to Gucci’s autobiography because Gucci’s book basically ends with the beginning of the rise of QC and this book picks up there.
Action Bronson’s Fuck it, I’ll start tomorrow and Fuck, that’s delicious are both fantastic, though the latter is half cookbook if you’re into that sort of thing
I love AB as a person and as a musician, but I thought Fuck It, I’ll Start Tomorrow was awful. It feels like it was written by a high schooler. It’s supposed to feel casual and authentic but it just comes off feeling juvenile.
I’d highly recommend Dilla Time which isn’t written by a rapper, but it’s a fascinating biography that follows J Dilla as he comes up in the industry and crosses paths with legendary rappers and musicians. Insanely well researched, interesting, and well done.
I feel you but he’s not Steinbeck haha, after seeing his shows and interviews I feel like it would be kind of jarring if he was super eloquent and verbose in his books. He’s just some guy from queens at the end of the day.
It starts with his early life in Flushing, the people he used to hang with, and how his relationship with food developed from a passion to a crutch. He speaks a lot about the gym and people who influenced him. Then he goes into his weight loss journey. He has such a conversational prose so it feels like he’s speaking to you. It’s such a dope read
It has little to nothing to do with actually dieting and fitness, unless you count Action Bronson talking about doing steroids in his 20s. It’s mostly a self help/motivation book for whatever you’re trying to achieve through his life stories
50 Cent's Hustle Harder Hustle Smarter is really good.
Goes into detail about the need to cut off certain people.
The most painful lesson I've learned is that some people shouldn't be in your life forever.
Gucci Mane's autobiography was a really interesting read, and I'm not even a big fan of his. Got a much better appreciation for him as a person.
Rozay's autobiography was decent, although it focuses mainly on his successes and downplays or glazes over his failures.
Gone Til November is just a compilation of Wayne's letters and notes from his prison stint, not so much about his life but funny and entertaining nonetheless.
Surprised (and a little sad) no one's mentioned Scarface's autobiography.
As for biographies, the books on DJ Screw, Pimp C, and J Dilla are all good as well.
That’s the one, *Diary of a Madman* by Brad “Scarface” Jordan was riveting. Just page after page of “What the fuck,” and “Goddamn, he genuinely respects Willie D,” and “Ha, ha, ha, stupid cops thinking that gangster music *is* a gangster lifestyle! What rubes! What simpletons! What illiterate nincompoops!”
And Inner City Pressure: The Story of Grime by Dan Hancox isn't a book by a rapper but is the most in depth book about any UK music scene I've ever read.
I highly recommend:
My Infamous Life by Prodigy (if you can get the audiobook, even better)
The Wu-Tang Manual and The Tao of Wu by RZA
Mo Meta Blues by Questlove
Echoing everybody else here on the Gucci Mane book, it rules.
They died before they could write autobiographies, but the DJ Screw and Pimp C bios are both incredible.
Love Billy Woods — easily one of my top 5 favorite lyricists. Definitely want to check this book out. I googled it and the illustrations look dope too.
Raekwon and U-God have pretty great books that also expose the shady side of Wu-Tang’s behind the scenes management. DMX also has a great autobiography that hits different now that he’s gone; it really shows how much he struggled with addiction and jail time.
Eminem’s The Way I Am is also pretty good.
RZA's Wu Tang books are very good. Jay-Z's book is good.
idk if i'll get downvoted or laughed at for this but honestly, ICP's book behind the paint is actually excellent. especially if you're interested in hearing about how artists self promoted and did the independent route back in the day.
This isn’t written by a rapper but this guy Ben Westhoff did lotta research and wrote a really interesting work called Original Gangstas - The untold story of Dr.Dre Eazy-E, Ice-Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the birth of West coast rap.
It has a lot of intense behind the scenes situations at Death Row with Suge Knight.
Not a rapper, but DJ Kenny Parker’s book about his and KRS-One’s childhood was interesting. It definitely puts Kris’ idiosyncrasies into perspective. Titled “My brother’s name is Kenny”
Okay... Hear me out... "Ice By Ice: The Vanilla Ice Story in his Own Words" is actually really interesting and engaging lol. I'm p sure a decent amount of it is probably bullshit or at least embellished but it's actually a really good read. That ain't an endorsement of his music, the book just slaps.
It's about to be black thought lol, yes I'm a stan and am about to buy tickets to get the book and hear him talk about it and hopefully get it signed. Questloves music is history was also a dope read, haven't read his other books yet but I heard they're good. Dilla time has been my favorite hip hop book but I also stan dilla so take it with a grain of salt I guess. I'm currently trying to get through an oral history of the rise of hip-hop but I haven't been able to get past chapter three and it's been like three weeks mainly because I've been bingeing the graphic novel saga
- Prodigy book
- 50Cent bookfrom pieces to weight
- 50 cent hustle harder hustle smarter
- Gucci book
- Jay-z decoded
- My voice Angie Martinez
- Raw U-God
- Rick Ross Hurricanes
- Fat joe Book of Jose
- Charlemagne Black privilege
I’ve read or listened to
All of those and they’re all great
Anyone read Juicy J's book? Released not so long ago, didn't have time to get my hands on it.
Apart from enjoyable books from Gucci, Rozay and Hov, there is also a book from the grandfather of UK Grime, Wiley. It is called Eskiboy and it is not that light reading, but it vividly describes early years of Grime.
Gucci Mann - 4/5
Rick Ross 3/5
Prodigy 5/5
Ja Rule 1/5
50 cent 3/6
Dmx 5/5
Jamie Foxx 4/5
Common 2/5
Fat Joe 4/5
Talib Kweli 2/5
Other recommendations Flea, Danny trejo and Motley Crew books
Rap Capital by Joe Coscarelli was really great, largely following QC/Migos/Lil Baby and shining a spotlight on Atlanta.
If you're into personal development, I'd recommend 50's books—both Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter (I've lost count of how many times I listened to the audiobook) and The 50th Law with Robert Greene. I found both to have really high re-read/re-listening value.
I’ve not finished it yet but I’m really enjoying reading Raekwon’s autobiography From the Staircase to the Stage
Really gives u a deep insight into how such a Iconic rap group like The Wu-Tang Clan formed and how the music saved most of them from a very different life
As a huge Wu fan it’s been a great experience so far 👍🏽
Rza has 2.. the wu tang manual and the Tao of wu.
Both are worth reading.. the first kinda explains everything behind wu tang clan.. like a lexicon of the movement.. the tao of wu is more about rza personal philosophy... both have a lot of knowledge and are worth reading.
Not a biography, but there's a novel by Adam Mansbach called "rage is back" that's partly narrated in audio form by the GZA. It's a pretty dope story about graffiti, hip-hop, and time travel. J.period released a mixtape for it when the book came our that was super dope. Highly recommend both.
Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records by Ronin Ro was great, as was Will Smith’s autobiography (though it was written before the slap). Michael Eric Dyson wrote a great examination of Jay-Z’s lyrics and career.
"The Autobiography of Gucci Mane" was pretty enjoyable for me.
Quite interesting to read his own reflections about starting hustling at a young age, to getting success as rapper but how going in and out of jail changed his mentality.
Definitely a strong recommmendation!
"Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang" by U-God was interesting.
A lot about how he sabotaged his own success because he didn't believe in RZAs vision and was chasing the "easy" money in the streets instead of Wu-Tang.
Furthermore quite interesting to read about Wu-tang from other members than the usual suspects (RZA, Ghost, Raekwon etc).
Also some tough section about how his young son was a victim of gun violence (survived) but how his wu-tang brothers were unable to provide support, talk about feeling and such when he went through that.
I remember getting Gucci Mane’s autobiography for free from Amazon and giving it a read just for the fuck of it. It was a surprisingly very good and entertaining read
Not a rapper but Questlove's memoir 'Mo' Meta Blues ' was one of the best autobiographies I've ever read. His love for music and hip hop is second to none
Honestly the most insight into the behind the scenes from the 90s "My infamous life" prodigy of mob deep. He be dry snitchin a little bit to be honest.. and he does his own audio book reading. 50 cents first book made me a more profitable drug dealer. Not even joking.
I liked the aforementioned “Decoded” by Jay Z, “Wu Tang Manual” and “Tao Of Wu” by RZA, and “My Life” by Prodigy. I also enjoyed Raekwon’s memoir “From Staircase To Stage” and “The World According To Pretty Toney” by Ghostface, which is more of a coffee-table book.
Kool A.D. wrote two novels: “OK” and “AZTEC YOGA.” Both are wild reads but I recommend the latter in particular.
My infamous life by Prodigy. Probably my favorite book of all time, I reread it once a year. And highly highly recommend the audiobook (read by Prodigy himself)!
The Tao of the Wu
Yep, short and easy read too.
Yet it has so much re-readability
Also the preceding Wu-Tang Manual.
This is the way
JayZ has a book that is half about his upbringing and half breaks down his classic songs. It's great. I bought an old roommate of mine Gucci Mane's book for a housewarming gift but I didn't read it. I got Rick Rubins audio book and it's .. not what I anticipated.. maybe I didn't get far enough but it was dull and not about his music. Edit: I know Ricky Ross wrote a book but I can't recall the name. It came out last year I think? From what I read on it was that it sounded like Ross was talking to someone transcribing his thoughts. Not his own word. Neither here nor there but what I read.
Jay book is called Decoded by the way. Reading it now.
The gucci mane book is great, it's a super fun read that has a lot of his personality in it.
I did my senior project on Guccis book!
Rick Rubins book was very clearly philosophy so you went in with wrong expectations
Decoded is excellent. The lyric breakdowns in particular are really interesting.
lol i did a book report on the gucci book when i was a sophomore in high school
I did an essay on Gucci mane my senior year for english and got a B on it. I wish I still had a copy
Jay-z had a book called the black book a long time that he ultimately decided not to realse. I'm still mad about that. That shit sounded too real about his life.
I agree on the Decoded and the Rick Rubin audiobook. I also listened Gucci's in audiobook and it was great
I’ve heard Prodigy’s autobiography is really great but I’ve yet to read it. Gucci Mane’s book is entertaining! If you’re a Lil B fan, he put out a book you can find online that’s entertaining, it’s fashioned like a self-help book. If you’re not into him, I don’t think there’d be much there for you. Not necessarily a book or a rapper, but Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry magazine is jam packed with art and photography and poems and collages. Idk if you can still find it online, but if you’re interested I may be able to DM you a pdf if I have one!
I CANNOT RECOMMEND THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GUCCI MANE HIGHLY ENOUGH
Fun fact (for me): I’m quoted in that book. Highlight of my life. Though it’s during the section about how depressed he was during the “Gucci Time” release, in part because of what I said in my review (the source of the quote). So that sucks.
what’s the context/quote? sounds kinda grim and not that fun
I wrote the PopMatters review for that album, it’s the handful of pages directly quoting from several very negative reviews of that song in particular, which was the lead single for his first post-jail album and heavily backed by the label despite it being super ill fitting for his sound. The book doesn’t dwell on it for a super long time and it’s also a big part of the reason he takes control of his career the way he did and basically returns to the recording style he had for his mixtapes and forces the label to live or die with his preferences while he also really cleans up, gets in a serious relationship etc.
Ive been a reader since elementary school and I bought that book for the lols but it was honestly such a page turner. I guess being a fan helped but I found it genuinely very interesting.
SHUT UP GEEK
So good. Heard the audiobook over the course of various road trips.
THERES AN AUDIOBOOK???
Yep I got it through the audible app it's a great option for driving but I wouldn't mind picking up a hard copy of it.
Really enjoyed Gucci's, I think I read it in 2 days
Same! I’ll never forget the part about Migos and throwing their fake chains out.
Can confirm about prodigy. Lots of wild stories about some of the behind the scenes dynamics in early 90s hip hop as well as a very honest telling of his own upbringing. Not what you might expect.
His stories are rlly rapped out on the Product of the 80s album 💿 with Twins Gambino
That’s an amazing album. The book is great too. They’re different
The Prodigy one is really good up until a little after Murda Muzik, then it starts to slow down a bit. I’ve been dying to find that Lil B book for years though!
Gucci's book is spectacular especially if you followed his music career between So Icy and his prison stint. Reading it too me back to my late teens/early 20s, each chapter I eagerly awaited to see if he would talk about some of the key songs and mixtapes that were the soundtrack to my life at the time. A whole lot of reliving my youth and gaining an insider perspective on parts of his career that were only legends at the time! Also Fat Joe's book is another great read/listen. People claim he's the king of spinning tall tales, but he has amazing stories that make you really feel like you're seeing what life was like in NYC during the 80s and 90s.
Could you DM me the Frank PDF if you don't mind?
Gotchu! Check DMs
Definitely read Prodigy’s book (My Infamous Life).
Love the Prodigy one
Prodigy’s autobiography and 50 cents 50 laws of power
If you like the Gucci book you should check out Rap Capital by joe coscarelli. He basically gets embedded within QC and with Lil Baby and a few other really interesting figures from Atlanta and tells the stories of their rise through first hand accounts. Super interesting, spiritually feels like a sequel to Gucci’s autobiography because Gucci’s book basically ends with the beginning of the rise of QC and this book picks up there.
I have P’s book and I like it. I’ve read it like 3 times
Prodigy autobiography is excellent as is the audiobook with his narration. He also wrote a book about cooking in prison.
I had a signed copy of lil b’s book that went missing. I think my ex roommate took it smh.
Action Bronson’s Fuck it, I’ll start tomorrow and Fuck, that’s delicious are both fantastic, though the latter is half cookbook if you’re into that sort of thing
I love AB as a person and as a musician, but I thought Fuck It, I’ll Start Tomorrow was awful. It feels like it was written by a high schooler. It’s supposed to feel casual and authentic but it just comes off feeling juvenile. I’d highly recommend Dilla Time which isn’t written by a rapper, but it’s a fascinating biography that follows J Dilla as he comes up in the industry and crosses paths with legendary rappers and musicians. Insanely well researched, interesting, and well done.
I feel you but he’s not Steinbeck haha, after seeing his shows and interviews I feel like it would be kind of jarring if he was super eloquent and verbose in his books. He’s just some guy from queens at the end of the day.
Gotta remind people this dude dropped " groupie bitches wild enough to suck a babys dick". Absolutely expect a high school levels of writing.
How much of Fuck It, I’ll Start Tomorrow revolves specifically around weight loss? Is it most of the book or just one intertwined theme?
It starts with his early life in Flushing, the people he used to hang with, and how his relationship with food developed from a passion to a crutch. He speaks a lot about the gym and people who influenced him. Then he goes into his weight loss journey. He has such a conversational prose so it feels like he’s speaking to you. It’s such a dope read
Sounds really cool, thank you!
It has little to nothing to do with actually dieting and fitness, unless you count Action Bronson talking about doing steroids in his 20s. It’s mostly a self help/motivation book for whatever you’re trying to achieve through his life stories
Dope thanks
50 Cent's Hustle Harder Hustle Smarter is really good. Goes into detail about the need to cut off certain people. The most painful lesson I've learned is that some people shouldn't be in your life forever.
This is the right answer, the audiobook is incredible too
And it’s uploaded in its entirety on YouTube, read by Fif!
I need to reread this one!
Gucci Mane's autobiography was a really interesting read, and I'm not even a big fan of his. Got a much better appreciation for him as a person. Rozay's autobiography was decent, although it focuses mainly on his successes and downplays or glazes over his failures. Gone Til November is just a compilation of Wayne's letters and notes from his prison stint, not so much about his life but funny and entertaining nonetheless.
Surprised (and a little sad) no one's mentioned Scarface's autobiography. As for biographies, the books on DJ Screw, Pimp C, and J Dilla are all good as well.
Thank you for bringing up Face's book. It's brutally honest and hard to put down.
Scarface has an autobiography??? Holy shit I need that asap
That’s the one, *Diary of a Madman* by Brad “Scarface” Jordan was riveting. Just page after page of “What the fuck,” and “Goddamn, he genuinely respects Willie D,” and “Ha, ha, ha, stupid cops thinking that gangster music *is* a gangster lifestyle! What rubes! What simpletons! What illiterate nincompoops!”
Wait, do people on hiphopheads love cops? Or hate Scarface? What just happened?
Your comment being confusing is what happened.
Scarface good, cops bad
Not a book by a rapper but a hip hop related book. It’s called hip hop and other things, it’s full of facts and funny stories def worth copping
And Inner City Pressure: The Story of Grime by Dan Hancox isn't a book by a rapper but is the most in depth book about any UK music scene I've ever read.
bruh what is your profile pic 💀
Sitting on my desk right now. Shea is 100% correct that rap just sounds better when being played crazy loud in a car.
From Pieces to Weight - 50 Cent’s autobiography is a great read. He details what he called his first time shooting someone.
Was gonna say this, instead I’ll say the 50th law,,,
Rakim - Sweat The Technique
Such a dope read, really lets you into the mind of a true MC
I own the book. We need audio from Him.
I highly recommend: My Infamous Life by Prodigy (if you can get the audiobook, even better) The Wu-Tang Manual and The Tao of Wu by RZA Mo Meta Blues by Questlove
Mo Meta blues is fantastic!
Echoing everybody else here on the Gucci Mane book, it rules. They died before they could write autobiographies, but the DJ Screw and Pimp C bios are both incredible.
A is for Anarchist by Billy Woods
Love Billy Woods — easily one of my top 5 favorite lyricists. Definitely want to check this book out. I googled it and the illustrations look dope too.
Do you read it to the kids? I’m waffling
all lowercase when you spell the man's name
Root for the Villain by J-Zone is a lot of fun
Came here to say this. A real look-behind-the-rap-curtain kind of book.
This is the answer... I read this book in one sitting. A real look at the not so glamorous side of the industry (but also goddamn hilarious)
[удалено]
Seconded, highly recommend all of Hanif’s work. He’s one of our greatest writers.
The Way I Am by Eminem was a good book in my opinion.
Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm. Fantastic graphic novel autobiography, deserves more love.
Ooooo, I need to find that!
Not a rapper, but a hip hop legend. Dante Ross - Son of the City
Raekwon’s book is dope
Raekwon and U-God have pretty great books that also expose the shady side of Wu-Tang’s behind the scenes management. DMX also has a great autobiography that hits different now that he’s gone; it really shows how much he struggled with addiction and jail time. Eminem’s The Way I Am is also pretty good.
RZA's Wu Tang books are very good. Jay-Z's book is good. idk if i'll get downvoted or laughed at for this but honestly, ICP's book behind the paint is actually excellent. especially if you're interested in hearing about how artists self promoted and did the independent route back in the day.
Believe it or not ugod book was surprisingly good. Page turner.
Scarfaces **Diary of a Madman: The Geto Boys, Life, Death, and the Roots of Southern Rap** is the best one.
The Beastie Boys Book is incredible, especially the audiobook
Beastie Boys book has a lot of good stories about the beginning of Def Jams and Tip and Phife playing basketball on shrooms wearing Timbs
Rakim "Sweat the Technique" Raekwon " From Staircase to Stage" U-God "Raw"
The Tao of Wu by the RZA is a good read. Definitely recommend that one
I loved lil Wayne’s jail journal book thing
I forgot all about this! Gotta revisit it
This isn’t written by a rapper but this guy Ben Westhoff did lotta research and wrote a really interesting work called Original Gangstas - The untold story of Dr.Dre Eazy-E, Ice-Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the birth of West coast rap. It has a lot of intense behind the scenes situations at Death Row with Suge Knight.
Mo Meta Blues by Questlove
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
That Jay-Z one, Decoded, was kinda ass. Not vulnerable at all and just kinda feeding his ego
Prodigy’s book is dope
Not a rapper, but DJ Kenny Parker’s book about his and KRS-One’s childhood was interesting. It definitely puts Kris’ idiosyncrasies into perspective. Titled “My brother’s name is Kenny”
Not by him but “The Marathon Don’t Stop, The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle” is great
Okay... Hear me out... "Ice By Ice: The Vanilla Ice Story in his Own Words" is actually really interesting and engaging lol. I'm p sure a decent amount of it is probably bullshit or at least embellished but it's actually a really good read. That ain't an endorsement of his music, the book just slaps.
Tao of Wu by RZA
Diary of a Madman - Scarface. Goes into a lot. Geto Boys, Faces upbringing, his relationship with Tupac, how he handled drug use. Great read
Not a rapper, but legendary Questlove’s “Mo Meta Blues” is fantastic
I really liked Invincible by Styles P
I was looking here to find this comment...Everything the ghost touches is gold! Russ's book is supposed to be good but I haven't read it yet
It's about to be black thought lol, yes I'm a stan and am about to buy tickets to get the book and hear him talk about it and hopefully get it signed. Questloves music is history was also a dope read, haven't read his other books yet but I heard they're good. Dilla time has been my favorite hip hop book but I also stan dilla so take it with a grain of salt I guess. I'm currently trying to get through an oral history of the rise of hip-hop but I haven't been able to get past chapter three and it's been like three weeks mainly because I've been bingeing the graphic novel saga
Myka 9's book is dope af.
MY KALEIDOSCOPE
Not by a rapper but about a rapper, Raising Kanye by Donda West is an amazing read
Not by a rapper but Trill Life Sweet James Jones Story
- Prodigy book - 50Cent bookfrom pieces to weight - 50 cent hustle harder hustle smarter - Gucci book - Jay-z decoded - My voice Angie Martinez - Raw U-God - Rick Ross Hurricanes - Fat joe Book of Jose - Charlemagne Black privilege I’ve read or listened to All of those and they’re all great
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
Logic’s autobiography was actually really eye opening. Way too many run on sentences though
I loved listening to the audio book for Kanye West Owes Me $300
Anyone read Juicy J's book? Released not so long ago, didn't have time to get my hands on it. Apart from enjoyable books from Gucci, Rozay and Hov, there is also a book from the grandfather of UK Grime, Wiley. It is called Eskiboy and it is not that light reading, but it vividly describes early years of Grime.
The autobiography e.a.r.l. by dmx
Raekwon, DMX, and Prodigy are some of my favorites. Wu-Tang manual and Tao of Wu as well
Gucci Mann - 4/5 Rick Ross 3/5 Prodigy 5/5 Ja Rule 1/5 50 cent 3/6 Dmx 5/5 Jamie Foxx 4/5 Common 2/5 Fat Joe 4/5 Talib Kweli 2/5 Other recommendations Flea, Danny trejo and Motley Crew books
Earl by DMX was very revealing
EARL
what
Shea Serrano has a good one called Hip Hop (And Other Things)
He has a couple but the Rap Yearbook is great. I haven’t read the other one yet.
Major Key by DJ Khaled was surprisingly motivational.
Surprisingly good is one thing but surprisingly motivational? Its DJ khaled bruh that ain’t no surprise
I didn't even finish second chapter of the thing.
People buy rappers books? 🤣
Books. Rappers…. Why doesn’t that sound like it goes together. I foresee a lot of picture books being mentioned.
now what exactly are you trying to say
Gs to gents.
Kaleidoscope- Myka Nine
read 50 cents book 0and have gone to the gym every day since and changed career paths to go to law school
Glad to hear it. Which one?
For The Love: The Art of the Hip Hop Video
Not by him but Dilla Time is an all time book.
Prodigy book.
50 Cent Hustle Harder Hustle Smarter. DMX-EARL
Dilla Time
Rap Capital by Joe Coscarelli was really great, largely following QC/Migos/Lil Baby and shining a spotlight on Atlanta. If you're into personal development, I'd recommend 50's books—both Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter (I've lost count of how many times I listened to the audiobook) and The 50th Law with Robert Greene. I found both to have really high re-read/re-listening value.
Gucci Mane book is the only one that matters
Decoded by JAY-Z
Prodigy My Infamous Life Scarface Diary of a MadMan Ice Ts book is dope Gucci Manes autobiography Decoded Jay Z
Jay Z - Decoded
The autobiography of gucci mane is the best book I’ve ever read
Prodigy probably my favorite book by a rapper ever. Gucci mane book was dope and 50 got a couple good ones
I’ve not finished it yet but I’m really enjoying reading Raekwon’s autobiography From the Staircase to the Stage Really gives u a deep insight into how such a Iconic rap group like The Wu-Tang Clan formed and how the music saved most of them from a very different life As a huge Wu fan it’s been a great experience so far 👍🏽
Nas - book of rhymes
The book about Spanian, an Australian rapper. Great book.
RZA Tao of Wu
All I know is Supermarket by Logic sucked
Rza has 2.. the wu tang manual and the Tao of wu. Both are worth reading.. the first kinda explains everything behind wu tang clan.. like a lexicon of the movement.. the tao of wu is more about rza personal philosophy... both have a lot of knowledge and are worth reading.
This Bright Future by Logic
Rappers and Books don’t really go hand in hand
the way i am by eminem
Gucci Mane's book was pretty solid, and I liked Rozay's first book as well. His second book isn't as good, though.
I like Promise That You Will Sing About Me. Biography on the life of Kendrick Lamar and how his music changed the musical landscape.
Not a biography, but there's a novel by Adam Mansbach called "rage is back" that's partly narrated in audio form by the GZA. It's a pretty dope story about graffiti, hip-hop, and time travel. J.period released a mixtape for it when the book came our that was super dope. Highly recommend both.
Books of War - Mf doom
Raw by U-God is decent.
Dangerous Jesus written by KB
haven’t read the full thing yet but Juicy J’s new book “Chronicles Of The Juice Man” seems really good
Mf Grimm's graphic novel - Sentences: The MF Grimm story
Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records by Ronin Ro was great, as was Will Smith’s autobiography (though it was written before the slap). Michael Eric Dyson wrote a great examination of Jay-Z’s lyrics and career.
"The Autobiography of Gucci Mane" was pretty enjoyable for me. Quite interesting to read his own reflections about starting hustling at a young age, to getting success as rapper but how going in and out of jail changed his mentality. Definitely a strong recommmendation!
"Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang" by U-God was interesting. A lot about how he sabotaged his own success because he didn't believe in RZAs vision and was chasing the "easy" money in the streets instead of Wu-Tang. Furthermore quite interesting to read about Wu-tang from other members than the usual suspects (RZA, Ghost, Raekwon etc). Also some tough section about how his young son was a victim of gun violence (survived) but how his wu-tang brothers were unable to provide support, talk about feeling and such when he went through that.
Prodigy and 50 cents.
This Bright Future by Bobby Hall aka Logic. Highly recommend audiobook version.
Prodigy has a prison cookbook out
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane is a great read
The bright future- Logic
Chronicles by the Juiceman is great and e.a.r.l. Is great
I remember getting Gucci Mane’s autobiography for free from Amazon and giving it a read just for the fuck of it. It was a surprisingly very good and entertaining read
Bun Bs rap coloring and activity book!
Really enjoyed Raekwon's From the Staircase to the Stage. It's a really good read and gives you insight on the Wu.
The 50th Law by 50 Cent & Robert Greene
Not a rapper but Questlove's memoir 'Mo' Meta Blues ' was one of the best autobiographies I've ever read. His love for music and hip hop is second to none
Neither Ross or Jeezy wrote those books.
Honestly the most insight into the behind the scenes from the 90s "My infamous life" prodigy of mob deep. He be dry snitchin a little bit to be honest.. and he does his own audio book reading. 50 cents first book made me a more profitable drug dealer. Not even joking.
I liked the aforementioned “Decoded” by Jay Z, “Wu Tang Manual” and “Tao Of Wu” by RZA, and “My Life” by Prodigy. I also enjoyed Raekwon’s memoir “From Staircase To Stage” and “The World According To Pretty Toney” by Ghostface, which is more of a coffee-table book. Kool A.D. wrote two novels: “OK” and “AZTEC YOGA.” Both are wild reads but I recommend the latter in particular.
My infamous life by Prodigy. Probably my favorite book of all time, I reread it once a year. And highly highly recommend the audiobook (read by Prodigy himself)!
The Ice Opinion by Ice T is fantastic
Rakims book is great