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

~ (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 (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #197,998 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

  #22 in	Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Bisexuality
  #80 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Rap

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 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!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Glad there were no names, May 24, 2008

By	Dominique Withrow "Flimflamfoo" (MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am glad Terrance Dean didn't name names. At first I thought that it was a ploy to sell books or for legal reasons. Once reading I realize that if he would have named names then he would have been a sell-out. It would have been out of character for someone in his situation.

The book detailed the struggles of a bisexual African American man working in a highly publicized industry. I was shocked at most of what I read about the "down low brothers" but not entirely surprised considering the nature of the book.

The riddles are not entirely easy to figure out. I think I immediately knew who one of the people, Ella (I think that was her psuedo-name), was. Otherwise I think the descriptions hides the identities of the people involved very well. And really...I DON'T want to know who everyone is. T.M.I. for sure.

This book was a fast read. Not something I would reread but definitely sheds some light on a sensitive situation.

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