The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop

A tour de force of the hip hop industry from beginning to the date published! I'd wanted this book for so long and when i finally got it i couldn't put it down. Fascinating stuff. I thought I might get saddened by the way the industry has exploited hip hop culture over the years, but Charnas makes you realise how much the business side of things has always had a big part to play in creating and shaping the culture, sometimes for the best, and sometimes for the worst. Highly recommended

A must have for any hip-hop fans. The book contains a detailed analysis of hip-hop through the years. It features some brilliant, dynamic characters and delves into the back end of the music industry that is normally so hidden. I learnt so much about the music business and culture from reading it.

Great

Loved this inspirational read. Hip hop deserved this

Really good recommended++++

Interesting and comprehensive look at the hip hop industry. Bit of a tome but worth reading!

Pissed someone stole this, i need to purchase this again but the cost is still higher than Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Doog

This book makes every other "history of hip-hop" book redundant because it is so all-encompassing. Well told and so much insight. THE book if you are interested in how hip-hop and rap got started.