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The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs

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for anyone who is from the Hip Hop Culture or grew up in any phase of the Hip Hop generation. Outside of that, this book will connect to anyone who understands the power of music and its ability to heal, guide and reflect the way we feel. I think the writing was done beautifully. Go get it, and if you don't like it... you need to read it again! LOL

peace.

Being a TRUE hip-hop fan, I really enjoyed this book. I could totally relate to having certain songs/lyrics that fit a certain time in my life. Considering the vast amount of great artists, songs and lyrics, I would have a hard time trying to narrow it down, but I enjoyed the songs Ms. Pride used. If you enjoy TRUE hip-hop, then you'll enjoy this book.

The Message is a must read for teachers and other professionals who work wit youth. Hip Hop plays a major role in the socialization of youth worldwide. Ms. Pride's work highlights the power of Hip Hop. Although often demonized. Pride;s work illustrates the beauty of Hip Hop as an art form. Great work. Respectfully David Miller Urban Leadership Institute

The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs

The Message: 100 Life Lessons From Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs by Felicia Pride is a written testimony to how much music influences us. Each chapter has the title of a song that had an impact on Ms. Pride. She shares with us lessons learned and how relevant the title or lyrics from some of her favorite song titles have been to her. Her love of hip-hop, the music and the culture resonates throughout the book. I could almost hear some of the songs as I read what she had written. In many ways the book reminded me of the movie, `Brown Sugar,' because of the authentic musical love that shown through. The Message was a book about the music but it was also about the growth of a woman and an artist.

The chapter, `Look into My Eyes,' is really touching. DMX, a much maligned rapper, performed that song and I was reminded of the first time I heard it. My son played it for me and I could feel DMX's pain and it allowed me to see beyond his persona into a tortured soul. The author relates how the song made her look beyond the surface of people and how she expects the same from others.

I recommend The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs to all who enjoy the musical genre. However, it is an entertaining, well-written book that can be enjoyed by all who enjoy biographical sketches written to an internal soundtrack.

When you reminisce over hip hop, where do your thoughts take you?
Do you think about the night you went to the roller rink with your friends and you heard NWA's "Express Yourself" pumping loud from the DJ booth, inspiring you to dance to the 70's beats in the song? Or maybe you think about the times you chilled out at the park in your car, with your boyfriend or girlfriend when L.L. Cool J.'s "I Need Love" played on the radio? If you're like me, you may reminisce about your college days: the parties in the student union, the walks with your friends across the bridge to the nearby store, the sorority and fraternity step shows. All of these memories have hip hop wrapped around them. We lived, loved and laughed, riding on the beats of songs by old school and new school hip hop artists. Within the pages of The Message: 100 Life Lessons From Hip Hop's Greatest Songs, author Felicia Pride shares similar memories with us and invokes our hip hop laced past. Not only does Pride break down the meaning of each of the songs represented within The Message, she also provides inspirational anecdotes from her life. As a self proclaimed hip hopper and journalist, Pride reveals the lessons she has learned, ranging from how to succeed in life, to knowing when to end a failing relationship. The author shines a light on what is positive about hip hop so that we too can absorb valuable insights from these songs. Readers of all ages will be able to get something meaningful from The Message.

DuEwa M. Frazier
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