From Staircase to Stage. Raekwon with Anthony Bozza . 2021. Gallery Books. 320 pages. [Source: Personal copy.] I’ll be the first to admit that while Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary hip-hop supergroup, I was woefully unaware of their story. I’ve always known a world in which the group is highly respected and lauded for their artistry, but only recently have I had the opportunity to really delve into the group’s origin and overall career arc.  Raekwon’s autobiography, From Staircase to Stage was my first foray into Wu Tang’s story, and I’m ashamed that it took so long. From Staircase to Stage is Raekwon’s story, without a doubt. He provides an in-depth look into his life from his childhood, before he fathomed becoming a musician, to his current life as an established artist renowned for his lyricism. From his early days as a drug dealer, to his antics while on the road with the group, and into adulthood, he shares a lot of himself.  I appreciate that he takes a reflective approach; he’s had a lot of ups and downs but there’s a lot of clarity he shares along with the experiences.  He readily admits his shortcomings without shying away from…

You Are Ketchup: And Other Fly Music Industry Tales. Kokayi. 2022. Backbeat Books. 212 pages. [Source: Public library.] As a longtime DMV* resident and fan of countless musicians originating here, I’m not a stranger to seeing Kokayi’s name, well, everywhere. I wasn’t, however, familiar with the full scope of his career, and when the opportunity came to read his new release, You Are Ketchup, I jumped at the chance.  Y.A.K. is part memoir-part advice manual for up-and-coming musicians/artists, but is filled with career, life, and love lessons for anyone who picks it up.  Using the metaphor of ketchup as a commodity, Kokayi sets artists up for critical thought and planning about their talent, marketability, aspirations, and expectations — nearly every aspect of their career .  He’s not preachy or even “one size fits all,” in his approach, and he doesn’t hold any cards.  The game is the game, and the way he presents his own experiences allows for direct advice to help artists move through their career with intentionality so they can actually enjoy one with longevity and viability. Kokayi is a brilliant storyteller and deftly balances painful memories and honest truths with just enough humor to take the edge…

We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want from Your Relationship. Devale & Khadeen Ellis. 2023. Rodale Books. 288 pages.  [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] To many in the IG/podcast/Youtube streets, Devale and Khadeen Ellis aren’t new faces; their popularity as a millennial couple has grown over the years as they’ve let the general public in on their lives as influencers/entertainers and parents to “four whole boys.” I’ve certainly followed their growth over the years, and was pleasantly surprised by the announcement the couple had written a book. We Over Me is a further look behind the curtain of the couple’s relationship while also presenting the approach they’ve grown into that has allowed them to stay together more than two decades.   We Over Me chronicles the trajectory of Devale and Khadeen’s relationship while incorporating insights from the lessons they learned along the way.  Each chapter covers a particular time in their relationship and a challenge they overcame, with alternating perspectives from Devale and Khadeen explaining their thoughts at the time as well as their reflections having seen the other side of the issue. Interspersed are “hot takes” from…

Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur. Sheldon Pearce. 2021. Simon & Schuster. 288 pages. [Source: Public library.] How does one approach writing about Tupac Shakur more than 25 years after his death? He’s one of the most well-known hip-hop artists of all time, and is among the most controversial artists, period. Tupac has been the subject of films (documentary and biopic), books, countless articles, and even academic courses. What else is there to possibly bring to the conversation? That’s where Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur comes in. Changes is not simply another take on Tupac’s life and legacy from someone waxing philosophically about his career and controversies. As Pearce acknowledges, the book seeks to “probe the collective memory” and serve as an “examination of influence.” As such, there’s little in the way of Pearce interpreting and translating the words of people interviewed for the book. Instead, the first-hand accounts of the “chorus” are presented largely as-is, pieced together to present a chronology of Shakur’s life. This group is wide-reaching and intentionally centers voices that have not often been the most sought-after; included are former teachers, business associates, family friends, medical personnel, journalists, and contemporary artists whose insight…

It Was All a Dream. Justin Tinsley. 2022. Abrams Press. 352 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] When the impending release of It Was All a Dream was announced last year, I ran to get my hands on it. I was enticed by the opportunity to read a fresh look at one of the most lauded emcees of my youth, but was also intrigued by what perspective an author from my generation would bring to such a well-publicized timeline. Released weeks shy of what should have been Biggie’s 50th birthday, It Was All a Dream presents an in-depth and reflective examination at Christopher Wallace’s too-brief life. It can be difficult to approach a subject like the Notorious B.I.G. with novelty. There is no shortage of film, books, or other media that have already examined his life, career, death, and legacy. However, with It Was All a Dream, Tinsley has the benefit of more than two decades to frame this retrospective. Ample time has passed, allowing him to consider the lasting impacts of Biggie’s short but notable career in ways that couldn’t have been anticipated in the 1990s. The result is a…