Description
Book SynopsisA thrilling narrative history of how one rap battle in New York transformed American culture forever. July 3, 1981, was a pivotal night for the future of America's newest art form: hip hop. In New York's Harlem World Club, the Fantastic Romantic Five and the Cold Crush Brothers competed, with an unprecedented $1,000and their reputationson the line in a highly anticipated rap battle. The show drew hundreds of fans to settle a question that still dominates hip hop circles: Who's the best? In Harlem World, journalist Jonathan Mael chronicles this fateful night of hip hop rivalry and shares a new look at how Harlem helped ignite a musical revolution. Since hip hop first emerged in New York in the early 1970s, artists like Theodore Livingston (DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore) and Curtis Brown (Grandmaster Caz) sought to elevate this uniquely American musical genre by pushing the limits of record-playing techniques and lyricism. The two crews they assembled put on the best shows in a world where
Trade Review"Journalist Mael chronicles hip-hop's emergence in late 1970s and '80s New York City in his rollicking debut. . . . Readers curious about the genre's roots will want to take it for a spin."
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Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Crispy Crust Pizzeria
1. The Sound Room
2. Routines
3. New York, New York
4. Hip Hop's Great Poet
5. Harlem World
6. Collision Course
7. Tough-Ass Four Emcees
8. Somebody, and Anybody, and Everybody Scream
9. Traveling Tapes
10. Wild Style
Epilogue: "The Message"
