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Rating: 
Summary: Manifesto of Hip-Hop Culture
Review: Dr. Boyd's book is not really like his other publications, "Am I Black Enough For You" is a scholarly investigation, "Young Black Rich and Famous" more of a standard non-fiction subject history approach. The New HNIC however is a manifesto. You won't find Boyd's words appended with footnotes and references. You won't find him carefully elaborating a declaration or assumption. He delineates his arena--drawing the line in the sand, putting the chip on the shoulder--in the entertaining introduction and that sets up how he'll play this game. This is one long rap. It's not a tome of scholarly resonance, it's Boyd telling things the way he sees it. It is his worldview, his opinions he doesn't back them up or justify them with the onerous works of other scholars that have approved tired old opinions. This feels fresh and vibrant. I disagree with some or a lot of what Boyd has to say, but his flow is so good that he makes you think and engage his words, ideas, rap. I'm not bound down trying to understand him having to sift through layers of obfuscation or completing missing a point because it's been clarified and backed up sixty times in one paragraph. No Boyd flows from one idea to the next, his flow is smooth and his position elegant enough to make it compelling, even to someone like me who would have disagreed with almost all of his positions before reading the book, but I can at least now understand them better having taken in this manifesto.In the end I was left thinking this: When I dismiss hip-hop for cultural reasons--because I'm uncomfortable with the drugs, crime, language, bashing, sexism etc--when I hold these things in contempt and refuse to understand them I am committing the same cultural crime of the 'great' white settlers and crusaders of old whose creed was intolerance and dominance. If I look on what was done to Native Americans and other indigenous people treated as 'savages' with revulsion, wondering how man could do such a thing I need to examine myself and understand the potential within myself for that to carry on. I have come away with a better understanding and appreciation of what hip-hop is and its importance as a culture to be valued. Hip-hop should not feared because it is different--the other--because it refuses to assimilate to our expected cultural standards. Hip-hop should be embraced as an expression of diversity of American culture.
Rating: 
Summary: Hip Hop Today, Hip Hop Tomorrow, Hip Hop Forever
Review: In this well-written and highly entertaining tomb, Boyd provides commentary that is both insightful and thought-provoking on a subject whose popularity continues to baffle mainstream America. While there are many who wish hip hop would simply vanish the way of disco and the dinosaur, the art form once dubbed "the voice of the street" has instead become more popular than ever with no sign of slowing. Like it or hate it, hip hop is here to stay and the implications deserves closer inspection. Boyd does so here with gusto, delving into issues of class and race that desperately need to be delved into, especially as we move into an era where racial issues are still as omnipresent as ever, but have become increasingly more complex. All in all a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Hip Hop Today, Hip Hop Tomorrow, Hip Hop Forever
Review: In this well-written and highly entertaining tomb, Boyd provides commentary that is both insightful and thought-provoking on a subject whose popularity continues to baffle mainstream America. While there are many who wish hip hop would simply vanish the way of disco and the dinosaur, the art form once dubbed "the voice of the street" has instead become more popular than ever with no sign of slowing. Like it or hate it, hip hop is here to stay and the implications deserves closer inspection. Boyd does so here with gusto, delving into issues of class and race that desperately need to be delved into, especially as we move into an era where racial issues are still as omnipresent as ever, but have become increasingly more complex. All in all a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Self-serving drivel
Review: The thesis is provocative, but that's it. The work is--with regards to scholarship--deeply impoverished. Venerable writings on Hip Hop remain few--consult Robin Kelly's or Tricia Rose's forays on the subject for more engaged, scholarly readings.
Rating:
Summary: wrong and silly
Review: Todd Boyd is the stuff. His book Am I Black Enough For You was all that but he has out done himself with this new release. I couldn't put it down. It rings with truth, honesty and clarity. If one is interested in a fresh balanced view of rap and hip hop then you have found a great starting place. This is a must read for anyone who is serious about hip hop. I am teaching a class on hip hop this summer and this will be the first book my students read. Thanks Todd you done done it again!...
Rating:
Summary: i really really wanted to like this book
Review: unfortunately, it's a really superficial analysis of an important movement. it doesn't go into the ambiguities of hip hop (like its issue with sexism) or even why, exactly, the civil rights movement is no longer relevant. there are no stats, no citations, no nothing. it's a very long, very passionate essay written by someone who really just had enough solid research to write a 3 pager but stretched it out over a few chapters. i was really, incredibly disappointed -- i really wanted this book to go into hip hop as a political force, to discuss the mtv rock the vote campaign, and the emergence of nh2ed, and instead it was like "thugs are cool! mlk is lame! wheeeeeeeeeee!"
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