Young people in London have contributed to the production of a distinctively British rap culture. This book moves beyond accounts of Hip-Hop's marginality and shows, with an examination of the production, dissemination and use of rap in London, how this cultural form plays an important role in the everyday lives of young Londoners and the formation of identities. Through in-depth interviews with a range of leading and emerging rap artists, close analysis of rap music tracks, and over two years of ethnographic research of London's UK Hip-Hop and Grime scenes, the author examines how black and white urban youths use rap to come together to explore their creative abilities. By combining these methodological approaches in the development of a critical participant observation, the book reveals how the collaborative work of these urban youths produced these politically significant subcultures, through which they resist unfair and illegitimate policing practices and attempt to develop their economic autonomy in a city marred by immense social and economic inequalities.

Reviews

"Make no mistake. There is no other book remotely like this one. It initiates a new era in the study of black London's subterranean music scenes and the broader youth cultures that they continue to fuel. Bramwell has not only accomplished an invaluable work of cultural history but provided a welcome reorientation for all future work in this field."

- Paul Gilroy, King's College London, UK

Book Information
ISBN 9781138319172
Author Richard Bramwell
Format Paperback
Page Count 172
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 272g