Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation

Chang, Jeff. 2005. Picador.

This Thing: Is less a book about hip-hop so much as it is a history of American urban culture in a post-Civil Rights Movement world. Chang weaves the origins and evolution of hip-hop culture into the story of America's under-privileged idealists and opportunists.

Best Bits: Chang's integration of political science, sociology, music and history. Public Enemy. Civic outrage.

Worst Bits: Late in the book, Chang seems to sort of lose interest in the musical side of things-- as soon as hip-hop becomes a commercial commodity, his investment basically flies out the window. Sure, he has a right to focus on the activist issues that clearly fascinate him, but is it really a complete history of the generation if you skimp out on its growth into a hugely visible discourse?

Couldn't Believe: Many of the incredibly juicy anecdotes he works in throughout the book. Ever wonder about how the cocaine industry turned into the crack industry? What the deal with Flava Flav was? When, exactly, Ice Cube sold out? Wonder no more.

I Guess: As uneven and flawed as this book feels at times, its still a riveting and really fun read. It has the flow and appeal of its source material, and is surprisingly eye-opening in terms of the country's disgraceful urban policies in the past forty years. Check it out, but don't feel bad about skimming once in a while.