It's Not About a Salary... Rap, Race and Resistance in Los Angeles: Rap, Race, and Resistance in Los Angeles (Haymarket Series) [Paperback]

Brian Cross (Author)

Book Description

Series: Haymarket Series | Publication Date: October 1993

This photo-essay, coupled with oral histories, provides a map of the contemporary hip-hop nation in Los Angeles. Bracketed by introductory essays on the history and production of the music and a glossary, the book aims to engage with the city's rap scene on its own terms, with interviews and images, documenting its movements and influences, its leaders and up-and-comers. From its beginnings, Los Angeles has been a site of multiple voices, disputes and injustices. The history of rap in this city sets out to tell these stories, providing a voice first for African Americans then, through hip-hop, for many others. Artists interviewed include: Roy Porter; The Watts Prophets; Gill Scott Heron; Ice T.; Nefertiti; Ice Cube; DJ Quik; and Eazy E.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This examination of race and rap music in Los Angeles begins with Cross's look at the societal underpinnings, including civil unrest and mistrust of authorities, most notably the Los Angeles police. In an essay that attempts to combine both academic and ethnic street sensibilities, he notes, for instance, the influence of the Watts Writers Workshop, founded after the 1965 riots. More illuminating, however, are the interviews with seminal figures such as the Watts Prophets (one of whose members, Amdee, says, "We realized that disco music was drowning out spoken word . . . we wanted to bring the word back out in front"), as well as more current rappers, including Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy E. Cross shows that in less than 20 years hip-hop has grown to encompass both outrage and entrepreneurship in an ever-changing synthesis of pop art and intellectual discourse. However, Cross, an Irish-born writer and photographer, spends too much time establishing his credentials for being "legit" in this predominantly nonwhite universe. Perhaps more insightful are his photographs of some of the rapper's homes, which more subtly illustrate their origins and sentiments.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Cross takes his title from "Gangsta gangsta," the classic rap by the group NWA, in which a refrain couplet claims: "It's not about a salary / It's all about reality." This is in no sense yet another lightweight, disposable publication glorifying one ephemerally popular artist. Indeed, Cross accomplishes in one volume what no other book on rap music has done. First, he provides a knowledgeable and detailed history of the idiom, going back to Slim Gaillard and beyond, to the nations of West Africa. Second, he provides a formidable collection of primary sources: interviews with pioneers of the Los Angeles rap scene as well as hiphop's established aristocrats. The depth and openness of the interviews makes it obvious that the subjects are comfortable with Cross and respect his understanding of their creations. As the best available work on a music genre that's here to stay, this book belongs in most academic and public libraries.
- Bill Piekarski, Southwestern Coll . Lib ., Chula Vista, Cal.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Verso Books (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0860916200
• ISBN-13: 978-0860916208
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything You Need To Know About LA Hip Hop, February 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: It's Not About a Salary... Rap, Race and Resistance in Los Angeles: Rap, Race, and Resistance in Los Angeles (Haymarket Series) (Paperback)

Simply put, there is no book like this about rap in Los Angeles. From KDAY to the Watts Prophets to Death Row, this book covers EVERYTHING you know about Hip Hop in LA, a story that is distinctly different from Hip Hop in New York. It features interviews with LA's biggest - Dre, Eazy, Cube, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, etc. - and leaves nothing out. This is a story that's rarely told, which is strange when one considers that LA rap was the force that mainstreamed Hip Hop. Hard to find, but a must have for any mainstream rap historian.

5.0 out of 5 stars Cross' true picture of the development of westcoast rap., June 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: It's Not About a Salary... Rap, Race and Resistance in Los Angeles: Rap, Race, and Resistance in Los Angeles (Haymarket Series) (Hardcover)

I have to give it up to Brian for the very honest and understanding picture that he paints of the early to middle development of the westcoast hip hop scene. Through his interviews and writings, hip-hop fans get a real sense of how rap music developed on the west coast and they hear the stories directly from the artists themselves. This book is priceless and a definite must have for all music fans. In fact, somebody stole my only copy so I need to buy another one. Cli-N-Tel

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm in this book, February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: It's Not About a Salary... Rap, Race and Resistance in Los Angeles: Rap, Race, and Resistance in Los Angeles (Haymarket Series) (Hardcover)

My bedroom in the Picture section LINK'S Room with the SP1200 from back in the days

West Coast Style LINK