Hip-Hop Is History

By: Questlove, Ben Greenman - contributor

Narrated by: Questlove

Long-listed, Carnegie Medal, 2024

Long-listed, Time Magazine Best Books of the Year, 2024

Recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the audiobook features narration and storytelling by Questlove, who expertly weaves together a rich sonic tapestry of hip-hop tales large and small, well-known and obscure. From hearing “Rapper’s Delight” for the first time in 1979 to directing and producing the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop for the 2023 GRAMMYs, Questlove guides listeners through a musical journey brought to life by Questlove himself.

This program is read by the author.

"From the nature of sampling, lyrics, and how music made the jump from vinyl grooves and mixtapes to streaming, Questlove’s curiosity, intelligence, and natural ability to compel listeners are on full display."—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)

"Throughout, Questlove's resonant and impassioned voice serves as our noble guide."—Booklist

"The opening introduction, in which Questlove describes the stress of putting together a special hip-hop performance for the Grammys had me on the edge of my seat with tension and delight."—The Guardian

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits—and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

A Macmillan Audio production from AUWA Books.

©2024 Questlove (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A memorable, masterful history of the first 50 years of an indelible American art form. . . Questlove’s instincts as a superfan and artist take this history beyond the hype to something very special."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A kaleidoscopic chronicle of hip-hop’s 50-year history. . . Throughout, Questlove interweaves sharp and lyrical analyses of hip-hop’s evolution with fascinating, up-close recollections of the genre’s turning points. . . an exuberant account of a dynamic musical genre and the cultural climate in which it evolved."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Insightful reflection on communal romance

This book let me know that I hear rap music COMPLETELY different from someone I admire within the culture of Hip Hop. And I’m cool with that.

Amazing history lesson from one of the best to ever do it

Question Love does an amazing job of telling the history of hip-hop in a easy to listen, informative and entertaining style. Love how he weaves in his own experiences and personal stories into the conversation

History on the good foot

I appreciate Questlove breaking down the elements of hip hop and weaving in the events of the day. Super engaging listen

Well thought out and enlightening

As mostly a rock guy with some Hip hop inlets, I loved hearing about the influence on, and of each group. Well written well thought out, and well executed by Quest.

Well done

I’ve fallen out of love for hip hop although I’m now excited to revisit albums, and artists that weren’t previously favorites. I’ve never been deep into everything as explained in the book. Perhaps that is what made it an even better listening experience. 2 thumbs up from me.

Ahmir has done it again

I love all of his books. The delivery… the content… all the things!!! Well done!!!