That's the Joint! ; Hip-hop Studies Reader (2ND 11 Edition)

Before That 's the Joint I spent countless hours making photo-copies of essays and articles on hip hop for my students. When That 's the Joint dropped it changed everything. It took hip hop studies to the next logical level and, hopefully, with the second edition Forman and Neal will take hip hop studies to an even higher level. That 's the Joint , indeed, it is the sure shot — Reiland Rabaka, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

That 's the Joint stands as the seminal Hip Hop studies volume. It is comprehensive in scope, incorporating works from the leading scholars, journalists and practitioners in the genre. Moreover, it treats the subject in a rigorous academic manner, while making the readings accessible to a broader audience. — Melina Abdullah, California State University, Los Angeles, USA

That's the Joint : The Hip-Hop Studies Reader brings together the best-known and most influential writings on rap and hip-hop from its beginnings to today. Spanning more than 30 years of scholarship, criticism, and journalism, this unprecedented anthology showcases the evolution and continuing influence of one of the most creative and contested elements of global popular culture since its advent in the late 1970s. Think of it as Hip-Hop 101.

This newly expanded and revised second edition of That's the Joint brings together the most important and up-to-date hip-hop scholarship in one comprehensive volume. Presented thematically, the selections address the history of hip-hop, identity politics of the hip-hop nation, debates of street authenticity, gender, revolutionary politics, aesthetics, technologies of production, hip-hop as a cultural industry, and much more. Further, this new edition also includes greater coverage of gender and racial diversity in hip-hop, and takes a look at hip-hop 's role in politics, including the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama.

With expanded pedagogical features including author biographies, headnotes summarizing key points of articles, questions for discussion, and references for further reading, listening, and viewing, That's the Joint is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the profound impact of hip-hop as an intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural movement.