Chicago fifth-grader Simon, an aspiring rapper who lacks self-confidence, uses his rhymes to help bring his community together.

Decoded ... a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time--Dust jacket.

Tells the story of how a movement that began in the neighborhoods of the Bronx, New York, grew to become a major musical, cultural, political, and philanthropic force all over the world.

A collection of essays detailing opposing viewpoints on rap music. Includes a look at the affect of rap music on women, on violence, and on politics.

"From underground roots to mainstream popularity, hip-hop's influence on music and entertainment around the world has been nothing short of extraordinary. Ode to Hip-Hop chronicles the journey with profiles of fifty albums that have defined, expanded, and ultimately transformed the genre into what it is today. From 2 Live Crew's groundbreaking As Nasty As They Wanna Be in 1989 to Cardi B's similarly provocative Invasion of Privacy almost thirty years...