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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > February > 29
Friday, February 29, 2008
A “Rap-Up” On Hip-Hop and R&B
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
T.I. is an Atlanta rapper, actor, businessman, son, father, convicted felon (currently on house arrest and facing gun charges) and now, an author of sorts.
The Grammy winner has penned the foreword to Cameron and Devin Lazerine’s new “Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B.”
And while, of course, the three or so pages don’t offer better insight into T.I.’s life than his five studio CDs —how could they? — it is interesting to read what influences his music (“People sometimes ask me what rappers I’m influenced by, and I’ve got to say I’m influenced by life more than anything else”); his first thoughts about the hip-hop classic “Reasonable Doubt” (Jay went over my head at first…It took me a minute. But I did salute it.”); and where hip-hop is now (“For me, the biggest problem in hip-hop today is oversaturation of the market. People have been burned by labels promising the latest hotness so often that they don’t trust them anymore.”)
Also, an intro from T.I. certainly lends heft to this “guide” from the founders and editors of Rap-Up - not necessarily the first magazine you think of as an “ultimate” source on these genres. But it isn’t all glossy pictures with little text either. In fact, it’s no pictures, and a critical take on what they deem must-own albums and singles, quizzes, quick bios and such.
Have you seen “Rap-Up” the book, or the magazine? What do you think of either? (You can visit the site HERE ) Even broader question: What magazine, web site or whatever have you found to be a good source for rap and R&B information?
