Kindle
$14.99
Available instantly
Audiobook
$0.00
with membership
Hardcover
$20.92
Paperback
$26.15
$20.92 with 30 percent savings
List Price: $30.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, July 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 8 hrs 44 mins
In Stock
$$20.92 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$20.92
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.

Return instructions

Item must be in original condition and packaging along with tag, accessories, manuals, and inserts. Unlock any electronic device, delete your account and remove all personal information.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Hip-Hop Is History Hardcover – June 11, 2024

by Questlove (Author), Ben Greenman
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Ethnomusicology
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$20.92","priceAmount":20.92,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"20","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"92","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"4UTN0rF%2FqoMlD5rvqtEyZZi24V6znpF7O4mveGgBF%2FdxAvlcvV6AcIiDPQgkXt1fFHjOZjHhW8GEEZ2YGrr6YyZHKIQQGEkTUiyqB9IoSGQW5KMOH0LnBjzvzD9zt%2FecC04qVbHOhx8mFGiiUKX8Bw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits―and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    AUWA
  4. Publication date
    June 11, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 1.1 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0374614075
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0374614072
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

Hip-Hop Is History
$20.92
Get it as soon as Thursday, Jul 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Music Is History
$11.49
Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 15
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove
$17.27
Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 12
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Control
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

Hip-Hop is History Questlove Ben Greenman
Hip-Hop is History Questlove Ben Greenman Questlove quote
Hip-Hop is History Questlove Ben Greenman Kirkus Reviews
Hip-Hop is History Questlove Ben Greenman Booklist review
Hip-Hop is History Questlove Ben Greenman Publishers Weekly review

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A wonderful ride, colored by personal digressions and crisp observations.”
―Dorian Lynskey, The Guardian

“[Questlove] is an affable and expert tour guide through the annals of hip-hop, as adept at spinning yarns as he is at spinning records.”
 ―G’Ra Asim, The Washington Post

"A trip worth taking. Questlove’s embedded narration of the infamous 1995 Source Awards . . . shows the author at his storytelling best."
―AD Carson, Los Angeles Times

"[Questlove is] a major artist and a major fan. With co-author Ben Greenman, [he] covers 50 years of hip-hop with insight, passion and the geeky love of a true believer. Not to be missed."
―Michael Giltz, Parade

“Like a window looking deep into the workings of a pretty special hip-hop mind . . . Entertaining and authoritative . . . [Questlove] uses his knowledge and experience to his advantage in every way, bringing unique and fresh perspectives. His well-honed instincts are spot-on . . . Immensely entertaining.”
―Pop Matters

"A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form. . . Questlove’s instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special."
―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Questlove closely examines the social, political, and artistic factors contributing to hip-hop’s growth, many facets and styles, stars, controversies, innovations, and far-ranging influence. This is a must-read . . . Questlove’s illuminating and insightful survey is as personal as it is expert.”
―Booklist (starred review)

"A kaleidoscopic chronicle of hip-hop’s 50-year history. . . Throughout, Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop’s evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre’s turning points. . . an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved."
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

About the Author

Questlove is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, Academy Award–winning filmmaker, drummer, DJ, producer, director, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, cofounder of the Roots, and the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the Roots serves as the house band. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Mo’ Meta Blues, Creative Quest, Music Is History, and his first children’s book series, The Rhythm of Time, as well as the James Beard Award–nominated somethingtofoodabout, Mixtape Potluck, and the Grammy-nominated audiobooks Creative Quest and Music Is History. Questlove made his directorial debut with the Academy Award–, Grammy Award–, and BAFTA Award–winning documentary film Summer of Soul, which broke the record for the highest-selling documentary to come out of the Sundance Film Festival. Questlove is a cofounder of Two One Five Entertainment. He is the publisher of AUWA Books, an imprint of MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Ben Greenman is a New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker contributor who has written both fiction and nonfiction. His novels and short-story collections include The Slippage and Superbad. He has been Questlove's collaborator on a series of books, including Mo’ Meta Blues, Creative Quest, and Music Is History, and he has written memoirs with Sly Stone, George Clinton, and Brian Wilson. His writing has appeared in numerous publications.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ AUWA (June 11, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374614075
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374614072
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ashby Dodd
4.0 out of 5 stars Questlove’s Hip-Hop Time Machine: A Must-Read for Music Lovers
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
"Hip-Hop is History" by Questlove is a fantastic ride down music memory lane. It smartly connects the dots between different eras of hip-hop, with each chapter diving into groups of artists or standout tracks from specific periods. Questlove uses cultural references to show how the music changed and influenced future artists.

What's really great about this book is that it's not just a history lesson; it's also a personal journey. Questlove shares his own thoughts and stories about the artists and music he writes about, making it feel like you're having a conversation with the author rather than receiving a history lesson. His insights are always interesting and well-thought-out, even if you don't always agree with them.

If you're a music lover, this book is a must-read. Questlove fills in a lot of blanks about how hip-hop evolved over the years. He mentions right from the start that he had to make some tough choices about what to include, and admits that his own perspective is bound to show through. Even if you don't agree with all his opinions, his take is definitely food for thought.

Overall, "Hip-Hop is History" is a great read that captures the essence of hip-hop's growth and its cultural impact. Questlove's passion and knowledge make this book a highly recommended addition to any music enthusiast's collection.
Helpful
 Report
Chelle Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like music, history, and a really, really good read, then this is for you
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
Hip-Hop Is History by Questlove is hands down one of the best books on contemporary music history I have ever read. The title may be slightly miscontrued, but it is all about perception and after you read the book, you will likely change it in your mind ot "Hip Hop IS History"

Questlove outlines the book in the introduction and this in itself gave a wonderful taster of this incredibly talented musicians highly knowledgable and personable narrative which immediately hooked me in, detailing the accepted beginnings of HipHop at a party in 1973 but expanding on this and why it could be seen as a springboard for a movement as opposed ot a definitive start date.

The book then goes on to explore the evolution of Hip Hop through the years, from a personal perspective as well as a social one, and on to advancements in technology and culminating in an absolutely blinding playlist that is organised by years in the same way the chapters are (this has my sensibilities firing on all of their happy cylinders!)

If you like music, history, and a really, really good read, then this is for you

Thank you to Netgalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux | AUWA and the author Questlove for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Helpful
 Report
Rebecca Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible History with the Best Guide
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2024
I truly cannot think of anyone better as a guide to 50 years of Hip-Hop than Questlove. He provides not only an incredibly detailed history of the genre, but also makes it personal to him and his relationship to Hip-Hop. Among many of the incredible anecdotes, one of my favorites was that Questlove found J. Cole’s iPhone in 2013 in the parking lot of a gas station across from a McDonald’s in Montauk. He tells the history in 5 year cycles spanning the very beginning in the 70's up through 2023. His thesis throughout is that "history is about cycles - ideas are born, run their course, and die or give way to afterlife."

Even though I would consider myself more of a casual fan, I learned so much and this book has made me want to start delving back into the beginnings and everything that I have missed in between. I highly recommend for anyone with an interest in the genre, you will end up learning so much and coming out with a new appreciation for Hip-Hop and Questlove.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the advanced copy.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Aleisha Wilhite
4.0 out of 5 stars Review
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
Hip-Hop IS History by quest love

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this ARC. all opinions are my own 🫶🏾

Pub date June 11th 2024

Genre 📚 history, arts and photography

What a great Contemporary music history book. Questlove did an amazing job narrating the book. I’ve always been a fan of his work. He is talented and knowledgeable so his expertise really helped me get excited, dive deep and explore the rise of hip hop. He discusses the evolution of hip hop and the modernization of technology to help advance the sounds of this genre that made it become popular and mainstream. The book will help you understand the cultural significance and impact of this art form and how the passion for music shapes our lives.
Helpful
 Report
AV_Therearenobadbooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to binge
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024
With a great intro and prologue filled with life experiences, humor, misadventures all all that must go wrong will go wrong, QuestLove dives us into a human experience of a life along Hip Hop (first as a child being at awe then as a musician) and growing up with it as air is relevant in life. Smart, sharp, easy to follow, and understand through his experience and sensibility. An amazing document/documentary on how a culture influenced so much and was born of so many influences allowing for expression, activism, and freedom. Great for music and history lovers, it hits a lot of the 80s pop culture as well, always making it a great listen/read. Fulfilling, educational, and interesting. Makes a great gift, too. Also love the list of music suggested by the author.
I listened to the audiobook, which was the best format to read this book. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the copy.
Helpful
 Report