Rap Attack, No. 3: African Rap to Global Hip Hop

Rap Attack #3

by David Toop

Rap is bigger than ever and now very much part of the mainstream.

Genres: Music, Hip Hop, Nonfiction, History, Art, Cultural

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

David Toop is a musician, writer, and Professor of Audio Culture and Improvisation at the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London. He is the author of Ocean of Sound, Sinister Resonance, Into the Maelstrom, and other books.

Reviews

[Jude Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

in-depth and on-the-spot reporting on a genre in its infancy. really enjoyed how toop contextualized the genre in the traditions of diy music, electronica, and the art of the african diaspora, and his reportage touches on many details and records you won’t easily find on streaming platforms. i was constantly jumping from the page to youtube and back while reading this. toop’s predictions for the future near the end of the book aren’t always on the mark, but that’s part of the charm of it.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most interesting books on Rap and Hip Hop I've ever read. Toop had access to various MCs, producers, and record label owners when he visited New York in 1984, and again in 1989, which make for some informative interviews with people such as Africa Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. But it's also interesting how he explores the genres origins pre-1970.

There's a lot in this book, and Toop jumps around a bit to fit it all in, with chapters moving back and forth in time as histories are traced for samples, breakdancing, and rapping itself. But the book is worth it for two other reasons. One, the amazing photography, and two, the 300 songs Toop recommends at the back of the book, which trace the evolution of Hip Hop and his tastes in the genre.

Hip Hop and Rap have evolved to such an extent that I can understand why there was never a fourth edition. But hopefully someone tackles it one day as this is a story which continues to grow as Hip Hop takes in more and more influences and pushes out newer and fresher artists every year.

[Des Bladet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indispensible social history of rap from a music critic who was there or there abouts and has done his fieldwork. 200 pages and it leaves you wanting much more.

(Scandalously it is currently out of print and tails off with the rise of Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer. I hope Toop is working up a 4th edition, which I would totally buy.)

[Amy Do · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a very well-researched book but hard to follow if you didn't already know the music and artists. I only knew musicians in the later part of the book. It's not a 'beginner's' guide. Also, the book tried to organize by both themes (musical style, origin) and time period, but did a blend of both, so it ended up not doing a great job at either. That made it a bit difficult to follow sometimes.
The best part of the book is being introduced to older hits. I discovered so many songs that were sampled by artists later.

[Nick Carnac · Rating 5 out of 5]

,,,,,,an insider's , well informed view of the African Musical Diaspora,,,,,

[Benedict Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a third edition... hence the three. It has been very much rewritten since the first edition (which I'd read at the time). But it was still annoying to realise that I was rereading material which in some cases didn't seem to have been changed that much.

[Vladimir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsorted collection of various facts, quotes and persons (most of them are not very interesting or smart).