The Rap Year Book

New York Times Bestseller - Washington Post Bestseller - Pitchfork Book Club selection

The Rap Year Book takes readers on a journey that begins in 1979, widely regarded as the moment rap became recognized as part of the cultural and musical landscape, and comes right up to the present. Shea Serrano deftly pays homage to the most important song of each year. Serrano also examines the most important moments that surround the history and culture of rap music—from artists’ backgrounds to issues of race, the rise of hip-hop, and the struggles among its major players—both personal and professional. Covering East Coast and West Coast, famous rapper feuds, chart toppers, and show stoppers, The Rap Year Book is an in-depth look at the most influential genre of music to come out of the last generation.

Complete with infographics, lyric maps, hilarious and informative footnotes, portraits of the artists, and short essays by other prominent music writers, The Rap Year Book is both a narrative and illustrated guide to the most iconic and influential rap songs ever created.

"Required reading for hip-hop fans and hip-hop newbies alike. It’s also the funniest thing I’ve read in years." Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of the Broadway sensation Hamilton

"Shea Serrano and illustrator Arturo Torres have become the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby of online rap-and-sports graphic humor... The New York Times–bestselling Rap Year Book... is as hilarious as it is insightful." WIRED

"The Rap Year Book above all intends to capture hip-hop’s spirit of banter and love of debating who’s best. This isn’t a book that’s a chore to read; it’s one that’s a pleasure to argue over. Buy it." Vice

"Just because you memorized the hook from "Trap Queen" doesn’t mean you know jack about rap. Do yourself a favor and pick up this expansive, definitive history of the genre, which breaks down the last 36 years one song at a time." The Verge

"It’s the reading equivalent of a Ken Burns documentary, except with more cuss words." Esquire

"The reading equivalent of rocking a boom box on your shoulder." GQ

Shea Serrano is an award-winning writer, author, and illustrator. His first book, Bun B’s Rap Coloring and Activity Book, was widely praised, receiving accolades from Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, Pitchfork, MTV, and more. Currently, he is a staff writer for Grantland.