Rap and Hip Hop: Examining Pop Culture

Of the many pop culture movements that currently influence styles, attitudes, beliefs and even politics around the world, few have had as extensive an impact as hip hop. Since its emergence as a set of underground African-American artistic expressions in the 1970s, hip hop has become a full-fledged culture that has reached every corner of the globe. This volume examines the social and musical history of rap music and hip hop culture and explores a wide range of writing on both the music itself and the controversies that so often surround it.