In the preface to Brian Coleman’s book, which is a follow-up to his mind-blowing Rakim Told Me: Wax Facts Straight from the Original Artists – The ’80s (2005), the hip-hop historian writes, “I do know the sensation of being frozen with delight after hearing a hip-hop track … It’s the kind of thing that reminds you that you’re really alive.”

It’s Coleman’s mission to allow readers to eavesdrop on the amazing conversations he has had with hip-hop legends over the years about the classic albums they’ve created. He presents more than 75 interviews with everyone from Ice-T to De La Soul.

Coleman calls this a reference book, or a guidebook of sorts. And best of all, academia aside, he talks to these hip-hop innovators “as people, with respect and authentic fan-fueled curiosity.”

He assures us that this book is his “way of giving something back to hip-hop, even if it’s just a fraction of what it has given to me.” Amen.

Grade: A+

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