Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--from Music to Hollywood (Hardcover)

by Terrance Dean (Author)
Key Phrases: bid whist, down low friends, down low men, Hip Hop, Los Angeles, Grandma Pearl (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A fascinating peek inside hip-hop's last taboo." -- Newsweek

"Dean's descriptive, page-turning exposé about his closeted same-sex romances with Hollywood and Hip-Hop's leading Black men will be a rude awakening for many and healing for others." -- Essence --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Everyone wants to know the truth about their favorite celebrities' heart's desire. Within the masculine culture of Hip Hop and Hollywood, there is a well-known gay subculture that industry insiders are keenly aware of but choose to hide. Terrance Dean worked his way up for more than ten years in the entertainment industry from intern to executive, and has lived the life of glitz and bling along with Hollywood and Hip Hop's most glamorous. With a family full of secrets and working in an industry founded on maleness -- where one's job, friendships, and reputation all depend on remaining on the down low and in hiding -- Dean writes a revealing account of the journey of coming out from hiding.

Full of startling anecdotes and incredible true stories, Hiding in Hip Hop is not a traditional tell-all. A personal and poignant memoir, it is also one of the most provocative and honest looks at stardom and sexuality.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria; 1st Atria Books Hardcover Ed edition (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416553398
• ISBN-13: 978-1416553397
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,502 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Bisexuality
  #15 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Rap

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keep It on the Down Lowwww!!, May 23, 2008

By	hunnigurl "book junkie" (alexandria, louisiana) - See all my reviews

i was anxiously awaiting the release of this book and i was thrilled when amazon received it early. once i began reading this book, i was shocked to discover that he used monikers instead of giving actual names. i really wanted to know the names of the gay rappers and other allegedly gay entertainers that the media speculates about. altogether, this was an enjoyable read because he spares no details when it comes to his life. this book would've been a 5 star had the timeline not been all over the place and he would have given out the actual names of his lovers and the other men and women who were part of his downlow circle.
3.5 stars

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oooooh! I've made a couple of guesses already!, May 4, 2008

By	Jenae Richards (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Yes, yes, yes, I know. This is supposed to be a serious book about a gay man's struggle to accept his sexuality, and love himself for who he is.

And it is that.

But I'm not going to lie, I bought it to find out which ones of these so-called gangsta hip hop stars is really homo. Be honest! Isn't that why you want to read it?

There are a few names mentioned in the book, but it's mostly descriptions of the stars -- so thinly veiled you can guess who the author is talking about. I'm not a real for real hip-hop fan, but even I was able to guess four or five. And let me say (are you ready for this?), if I'm guessing correctly, one of the people mentioned played a large part in Karrin Steffans' book, Confessions of a Video Vixen!

Can you believe it?

I do!

I'm not going to spoil it by posting my guesses, because 90 percent of the enjoyment of the book is figuring it out for yourselves. But another rapper mentioned is tatooed, and always rags on homos in his raps. Yep, yep, yep!

I heard that the author is supposed to be on the Wendy Williams show on May 13th, and I can't wait!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, June 3, 2008

By	Brooke Green "Author/Publisher/Avid Reader" (Philly, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I heard about this book from Publisher's Weekly last year and have been in a mild state of anticipation ever since.

I read this book in a day and a half and I must say that I enjoyed every second. I, like many others, was able to guess several of the names and have now gone back through it to figure out the rest. I am happy to see someone finally write about the 'down low' men and women in the entertainmaent industry because we know it exists. Am I surprised about any of the people 'mentioned' in the book? Absolutely not! But I live and let live.

Aside from the outings, Terrance gives the readers an in depth look into his life, from his drug-addicted mother, the sexual abuse he experienced at the hands of a family friend and above all else, his journey to self-acceptance. I was thoroughly moved by Terrance's candor and impressed with his ability to turn his aspirations into successes.

You, Me and He