Chronicles the history of hip hop music from its origins on the streets of Brooklyn to it explosion as an international phenomenon; includes a CD with songs from some of the world's most influential hip hop artists.

Includes index.

The real old school / John F Szwed -- Back in the day : 1975-1979 / S.H. Fernando, Jr. -- DJ Kool Herc / Havelock Nelson -- Sugar Hill Records / Steve Greenberg -- Graffiti :graphic scenes, spray fiends, and millionaires / Sacha Jenkins -- The second wave : 1980-1983 / Tom Terrell -- Breaking it all down : the rise and fall and rise of the B-Boy Kingdom / Cristina Vern -- Run-D.M.C / Sasha Frere-Jones -- You spin me round (like a record, baby) : last night a DJ saved hip hop / Chairman Mao -- Hip hop radio / Bobbito Garcia -- L.L. Cool J / Sia Michel -- Battle rhymes / Shani Saxon -- Word / Anthony DeCurtis -- Microphone fiends : Eric B. and Rakim/Slick Rick / Bönz Malone -- The Juice Crew : beyond the boogie down / Michael A. Gonzales -- Early Los Angeles hip hop / Ben Higa -- Pop rap / Matt Diehl -- The Beastie Boys / Mike Rubin -- Hip hop video / Josh Tyrangiel -- KRS-One / Charles Aaron -- The Big Willies / J.D. Considine -- Money, power, respect : hip hop economics / Bill Stephney -- Public Enemy / Alan Light -- DJs vs. samplers / Suzanne McElfresh -- Ladies first / Laura Jamison. Compact disc. Crown royal / Run-DMC -- Tonite / DJ Quick -- Fresh / Fresh-3 M.C.'s -- It's like that / Run-DMC.