Droppin' Science: Critical Essays on Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture (Critical Perspectives on the Past) [Hardcover]

William Eric Perkins (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Critical Perspectives on the Past | Publication Date: June 1996

A historical guide to the evolution of rap and hip hop music from its beginnings to the evolution of its many forms and frequent controversies including violence and misogyny. Cultural associations covering dance and fashion are also discussed in this collection.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Perkins, a faculty fellow at the W.E.B. DuBois House at the University of Pennsylvania, has assembled a collection of essays about rap music and hip hop culture. He provides an introductory history of rap, followed by articles about the pioneering contributions of female and Latino American rappers. Essays dealing with the political and economic contexts of rap-gangsta rap, rap with a message, and the racism inherent in rap's crossover to white America-form the second part of the book. The third section features articles about hip hop culture, especially breakdancing and the use of public space for performance, and ends with an epilog by the editor. Though sometimes overly academic and ranging in quality from the workmanlike introduction to the excellent essay on message rap, Droppin' Science provides a revealing look at an important part of African American culture in the 1990s. It serves as a welcome addition to the growing legion of books and articles on the topic. Recommended to those interested in modern music and culture.
David Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"It is the undisputed word, the perfect blend of truth with reality, the flyest and realest reading about the flyest and realest art. These essays are informational, readable, and necessary to correct the misunderstanding that sweeps the news." - Ishmael Butler (aka Butterfly), Grammy Award-winning artist, Digable Planets --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 276 pages
• Publisher: Temple Univ Pr (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566393612
• ISBN-13: 978-1566393614
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,484,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A plethora of intellectual and dynamic thoughts on hip hop., April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Droppin Science (Critical Perspectives On The P) (Paperback)

Droppin science is a collection of insightful essays from a variety of intellectuals about the social dynamics and history behind the music now known as hip-hop. Every hip-hop head or any music lover in general could benefit from this insightful collection. From the influences of the island cultures on rap to the history of dance, this book illuminates and expands the present discourse on rap. This is a book I will surely pass onto others in the hip-hop community.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rather good book, August 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Droppin Science (Critical Perspectives On The P) (Paperback)

Very interesting, with opinions that don't always duplicate what the last person said. I really enjoyed some of the essays of this book. It challenges white patriarchal assumptions about Black music, its relevance, and those who are trying to appropriate it for their own financial gain. Tricia Rose's book is also a good one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good essay collection, September 28, 2006

By 

British Commentator (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Droppin Science (Critical Perspectives On The P) (Paperback)

I would recommend this to any Hip Hop fan as a book to read. It has a collection of essays on various aspects of Hip Hop. Some are quite amazing; a standout was one that researched the origins of Breaking and traced different moves to different parts of Africa. It is a very good book; people who read works by Nelson George or James Spady, or who are familiar with David Toop's "Rapattack", Jim Fricke's "Yes Yes Y'all" or Jeff Chang's "Can't Stop Won't Stop" will like this.