Understand Rap: Explanations of Confusing Rap Lyrics You and Your Grandma Can Understand Paperback – October 8, 2010

I want to start off by saying: I never used to be a rap fan. I've always loved the sound (the "beats"), but I've never understood what the music is really saying! It's never been out of lack of effort either. I mean, I've tried to understand for YEARS, generally by consulting my grandma (who's been NO HELP whatsoever), but also by playing the music in reverse, because I've heard that's a way to find hidden meaning in songs.Well, ALL THAT HAS CHANGED. Now that I've purchasd this book, I've had a reason to visit her EVERY WEEK, and together we sit on her "davenport" (that's what she calls her sofa) and peruse this fine piece of literature. This is like the Rosetta Stone of rap music. I can now confidently say that both my grandma and I can listen to various rap songs that we've never heard before and understand what's going on! I even rapped about instant grocery savings the other day, because I was so stoked to save $5.83 with my QFC Advantage Card (that was 38% in savings, yo).I wish I could give this book six stars, because Amazon would send me an email telling me I can only give five stars and then I would give my grandma the other star, because she is great and, not to mention, a mighty fine rapper herself.

Been a Hip Hop head since the soundtrack to Beat Street dropped. I got this book as a gift for my older Brother, who absolutely loves it. Of course I had a chance to check it out first. Ridiculously funny, and I love the choices that they made for the lyrics they translated. Awesome book, makes a terrific gift, I recommend it.

Rap has interested me artistically for a long time, but unfortunately I've never much understood the words and usually there was no one around to ask, "What are they saying?" UNDERSTANDING RAP has changed that: now I know what they're saying, why they're saying it, and as a useful corollary, why there are very good reasons for the performers wearing huge t-shirts, top quality sneakers, and carrying assorted weapons. Although the explanations in Standard English are a bit convoluted, they make fairly clear the opinions and feelings of the performers and their audience. On a planet where it is better if everyone at least makes an effort to get along moderately well, UNDERSTANDING RAP is a useful little handbook to have along for the ride.

overall pretty happy with it. ive followed hip hop along with other types of music my whole life and got this for my brother who loves to drop a lot of the lines that you will see in this book that make you go "wow". good in a rap song, but out of place in every day life. we recognized most of the lines in the book, and already knew the meanings but the explanations wont really make you laugh but they will all probably bring a smile at the very least. kinda wish there were more clever lines in there like "got so many chips they call me hewlett packard" i found that to be the most interesting part for me. lil wayne has a bunch, ludacris is the king of doing that. overall a reasonable stocking stuffer or small gift for someone. wouldnt make it the only gift though if it was for someone your close too

The book is correct, and it basically just breaks down phrases in popular rap songs to tell you what it means. Most of them are obvious, but I work in a men's maximum security prison-so I have learned plenty of "ebonics" in there.I wish it would have said more definitions though-that would have been a lot more helpful.It will basically state something, for example: "I got the title put the whip in my own name now." Then it will go on to describe exactly what that phrase means. It does help to decipher a few sayings, but I was expecting to understand the words that rap uses, not just random phrases. That is why I took off one star.On the bright side, it is divided into chapters, so you can easily find what you are looking for-if you even understand the rap enough to know what catgory it belongs in.The only other thing I wasn't too fond of was how it seemed to get repetitive when describing the phrases. It seemed the author was running out of ideas and just simply "right click, synonym" to finish the definitions/descriptions. It is okay, but more of a conversational piece that anything else.

On one hand, this book could actually be read as some type of instructional manual to the bridge of slang/lingo that permeates hip-hop. On another its a hilarious book reading same said slang/lingo painfully and amazingly dissected for the "common tongue".Great gift for the lulz.

Gave this to a music producer/DJ friend for her birthday. She is beyond cool and loved it. I know nothing about music and had fun sounding like a fool while I read the lyrics and interpretations aloud. My friend will use this to educate her conservative Texan mother on the rap lyrics she always asks about.We actually used this as a birthday card, and circled, highlighted and drew pictures on the pages that reminded us of our friend. "I love you like a fat kid loves cake," I believe, was the big hit.

Creative, thoughtful and smart.