Recommended Hip-Hop History

Since we are still a little shaken over the story (later retracted) on E!'s website that Nick and Jessica filed for divorce, we haven't really left our house much in the last 36 hours. When we were, even briefly, able to hold back the tears, we've been very much enjoying 'Can't Stop Won't Stop : A History of the Hip Hop Generation' by Jeff Chang. This book traces the rise of hip-hop from its Jamaican influences through its 'birth' in New York City to its rise as the dominant cultural force it is today. There are a lot of nuggets to be found. Plus, it's hard not to like a book that references both Robert Moses and Ice Cube (both of whom would be guests at our cocktail party in a perfect world).

On notes completely unrelated to hip-hop, stream the new Sleater-Kinney album here and the new Oasis album here.