Tag: Music

I Got Something to Say: Gender, Race, and Social Consciousness in Rap Music

I Got Something to Say: Gender, Race, and Social Consciousness in Rap Music

Ever since my article, “The cost of being ‘real‘: black authenticity, colorism, and Billboard Rap Chart rankings,” was published in Ethnic & Racial Studies (2018), I’ve gotten requests to review other work on hip hop, lyricism, and identity. Last week I received Matthew Oware’s book I Got Something 

Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis

Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis

Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis has been on my “To Read” list for a while. I enjoy learning about my hometown’s history and with a future project on Memphis nightlife I figured this book was an essential read. 

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

In 2018, I’m committed to reading more non-academic books. I started this quest with East Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane’s recently released autobiography, aptly titled The Autobiography of Gucci Mane (2017, Simon & Schuster). First of all, let me begin by saying that I stopped being a fan