内容简介
A Tribe Called Quest - Beastie Boys - De La Soul - Eric B. andRakim - The Fugees - KRS-One - Pete Rock and CL Smooth - PublicEnemy - The Roots - Run-DMC - Wu-Tang Clan - and twenty-five morehip-hop immortals It's a sad fact: hip-hop album liners have alwaysbeen reduced to a list of producer and sample credits, a publicityphoto or two, and some hastily composed shout-outs. That's a damnshame, because few outside the game know about the true creativeforces behind influential masterpieces like PE's It Takes a Nationof Millions. . ., De La's 3 Feet High and Rising, and Wu-Tang'sEnter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). A longtime scribe for the hip-hopnation, Brian Coleman fills this void, and delivers a thrilling,knockout oral history of the albums that define this dynamic andiconoclastic art form. The format: One chapter, one artist, onealbum, blow-by-blow and track-by-track, delivered straight from theoriginal sources. Performers, producers, DJs, and b-boys-includingBig Daddy Kane, Muggs and B-Real, Biz Markie, RZA, Ice-T, andWyclef-step to the mic to talk about the influences, environment,equipment, samples, beats, beefs, and surprises that went intomaking each classic record. Studio craft and street smarts, sonicinspiration and skate ramps, triumph, tragedy, and take-outfood-all played their part in creating these essential albums ofthe hip-hop canon. Insightful, raucous, and addictive, "Check theTechnique "transports you back to hip-hop's golden age with thegreatest artists of the '80s and '90s. This is the book thatbelongs on the stacks next to your wax. "Brian Coleman's writing isa lot like the albums he covers: direct, uproarious, and more thansix-fifths genius." -Jeff Chang, author of "Can't Stop Won't Stop ""All producers and hip-hop fans must read this book. It reallyshows how these albums were made and touches the music fiend ineveryone." -DJ Evil Dee of Black Moon and Da Beatminerz "A rarityin mainstream publishing: a truly essential rap history." -RoninRo, author of "Have Gun Will Travel "