What is Hip-Hop?

Trying out the breakdance move from the cover.

Written by Eric Morse
Illustrated by Anny Yi
Published in 2017

Why we chose this book:

This is in the same series as What is Punk?, and Akashic Books included What is Hip-Hop? when they accommodated my request for the punk book and Sea Creatures from the Sky. I know next to nothing about hip-hop and so was keen to read this with T.

Mom's Review

An overview of many hip-hop artists.

I think that I would have had a better appreciation of this children's book if I had had a foundational knowledge of hip-hop to start. As it was, I recognized a fair number of the musicians' names, but felt a bit bowled over by the number of artists listed. Some attention was given to graffiti art and to breakdancing, which inspired T to try some moves of his own. Reading this has also prompted us to listen to hip-hop and rap, and T likes Tupac's "Dear Mama" in particular. If you are a hip-hop fan to start, then this would likely be a fun book for you and your little one. And if you aren't much of one, then it's an eye-catching introduction to something new.

Son's Review
(age 3)
While reading:
Son: I'd like to be one of their names. Joe. (points to one figure in a group) I think this one's Joe.

Mom, reading: "Their songs weren't always clean, some people were offended."

Son: Why weren't their [Salt-N-Pepa's] songs always clean?

Mom: Well, sometimes they use what we call swear words or dirty words. They are very strong words that convey a lot of emotion but sometimes aren't so nice for other people to hear.

Son: And what means not clean songs?

Mom: Songs that use dirty words.

Son: And what are the dirty words?

Mom: I'm not going to repeat them right now.

Son: Why?

Mom thinks: Shit, how do I answer that?
Mom says: Ummm...because they wouldn't be so nice for your ears to hear.

After reading:
Son: We should listen to all their music!

Mom: Great. Should we listen to Ice Cube or Eminem after this?

Son: Yes! (flips to Tupac's page) That one sings "Dear Mama."

Mom: Ohhh, yeah. Did you listen to that song? What did you think of it? How did it make you feel?

Son: Yeah. It was good. Happy.

Mom: What did you think of this book? What did you like the most?

Son: I think it was good. Music didn't come from a store.

Mom: Where does it come from?

Son: It comes from people. People sing.

Mom: Did this book make you want to do anything?

Son: Dance

Mom: When would it be a good time to read this book?

Son: When you are playing music.

Mom: And who should read this book?

Son: Cousin G. Because that one's pants are blue. They are blue like Thomas, and G likes Thomas.