Desi Rap: Hip Hop and South Asian America

by Ajay Nair (Editor), Murali Balaji (Editor), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Contributor)

Desi Rap is a collection of essays from South Asian American activists, academics, and hip-hop artists that explores four main hip-hop as a means of expression of racial identity, class status, gender, sexuality, racism, and culture; the appropriation of Black racial identity by South Asian American consumers of hip-hop; the furthering of the discourse on race and ethnic identity in the United States through hip-hop; and the exploration of South Asian Americans' use of hip-hop as a form of social protest. Ultimately, this volume is about broadening our horizons through hip-hop and embracing the South Asian American community's polycultural legacy and future.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! This book was more than an anthology of South Asian Americans appropriation of Hip Hop. It tells the story of the second generation experience as Brown Americans. Each essay moved me and validated my own interest in pursuing an African American studies degree in undergrad. It was through African American literature and history in which I found a space to introspect on why I often felt on the outside of mainstream America. This is a book I will be referencing often. I purchased on Kindle but will most likely purchase a hard copy on Amazon. A must read!

[Nagma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it