Blog Posts by Subject: Hip-hop

Six suggestions for your summer.

In 1983, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin co-founded Def Jam, one of the most prominent hip-hop labels in the American music industry today.

The St. George Library shows its respect for the legends of the hip-hop world with the #Wuseum, an evolving display of everything and anything Wu-Tang.

Timbaland is a producer, rapper, songwriter, and now, an author.

A periodic list of some of the most exciting, newly purchased CDs for our circulating collections.

Fox's new television series, Empire, is a family drama set in the hip-hop world. For fans of the show left wanting more, here is a list of fiction and nonfiction titles that you might enjoy.

Here are some tunes to thrash around to, some books to read up on and some movies to feel inspired by.

For our 50th episode, we're proud to present rap icon Jay-Z. He spoke at Live from the NYPL about growing up in the Marcy Projects, hustling, and forgiveness.

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of Nas’s debut album, Illmatic. On Wednesday, I had the privilege to attend the opening of the Tribeca Film Festival to watch my friend and former colleague Erik Parker’s documentary, Time Is Illmatic. Parker’s film examines Nas’s groundbreaking album because it symbolizes the shift of hip-hop’s nerve center and lyrics in 1994.

Who is Harlem Witness? St. George Library Center found out not too long ago when local Staten Island musician Shawn "Harlem Witness" DeBerry performed his Gospel-Rap set to audience full of eager concert goers. Shawn also provided us with a little bit of information about his musical background and the personal aspirations he has for his craft. 

What kind of music do you listen to?

I actually listen to a wide variety of music such as

I met this girl, when I was 10 years old And what I loved most, she had so much soul Lyrics from "I Used to Love H.E.R." by Common

Former Actor and California Governor, Ronald Wilson Reagan was the President, while in New York City Edward Irving Koch was nearing the end of his Mayoral run. The Cold War was nearing its end and for many kids growing up in the South Bronx in the early '80s, there were more important things to worry about, than what Communists were doing on the other side of the globe. Crack Cocaine and HIV/AIDS had their grip on nearly every inner city 

Recently, The New York Public Library hosted JAY-Z in conversation with Cornel West and Paul Holdengräber where the rapper spoke about his newly released book Decoded. Now, this is my feedback as both a librarian and a fan.

Rapper

A few weeks ago I had no idea who B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray was. I don't listen to the radio often, and I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop. I did run into some buzz about him on the Internet, and heard about how he was collaborating with a wide variety of artists that I either like or find interesting (Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, T.I., Eminem, Hayley Williams from

Is anyone else left with a bad taste in their mouths after the Grammys? Are we all really so anesthetized now that we need fireworks, an army of glittery dancers, and trapeze acts just to stay interested in music? There always seems to be a contest to see who can put on the most ridiculously over-the-top stage show, but just seems to me like an adult version of dangling shiny keys in a baby's face. OK, yea, put on a great show and all, but seriously?! It just reminds me of how Top 40 types are just