This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop. Here are a few books for the little ones and YA readers that either focus on giants in the hip-hop community or the genre overall—history, icons, cultural relevance, etc. Two of the titles will not be available until 2024, so put them on your pre-order list. Enjoy!
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1. Legends of Hip-Hop: Biggie Smalls: An Opposites Biography
Pen Ken | Saxton Moore | HarperFestival | May 21, 2024 | Bd Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
2. History Comics: Hip-Hop: The Beat of America
Jarrett Williams | First Second | January 2, 2024 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
3. Legends of Hip-Hop: Queen Latifah
Pen Ken | Saxton Moore | HarperFestival | September 19, 2023 | Bd Bk | Amazon |Bookshop
4. Legends of Hip-Hop: 2Pac
Pen Ken | Saxton Moore | HarperFestival | September 19, 2023 | Bd Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
5. A Child’s Introduction to Hip-Hop: The Beats, Rhymes, and Roots of a Musical Revolution
Jordannah Elizabeth | Markia Jenai | Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers | August 08, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
6. The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop
Carole Boston Weatherford | Frank Morrison | little bee books | January 8, 2019 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
7. Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat
Nikki Giovanni | Alicia Vergel de Dios | Damian Ward, et al | Sourcebooks | PB | 2008 | Amazon | Bookshop
8. The Birth of Hip-Hop (Freedom’s Promise)
Duchess Harris | Tammy Gagne | Core Library | August 1, 2019 | Chp Bk | Amazon | Bookshop
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