The History of Hip Hop

"Beats of the New Millennium: An Odyssey Through the First Decade of Millennium Hip-Hop"

*** Author of "Rapper's Delight" essay currently archived at the Library of Congress ***
*** Guest speaker of BBC2 Radio "Rapper's Delight 40th Anniversary" by DJ Trevor Nelson - September 2019 ***

Step into the rhythm of the new millennium with "The History of Hip Hop: Volume 4". This in-depth exploration by Eric Reese delves into the seismic shift of the genre during the early 21st century, where hip-hop found itself morphing from the raw, gritty sound of the 90s into a more polished, mainstream genre.

Journey from the gritty corners of Detroit, where Eminem was rewriting the rules of the game, to the vibrant scenes of Atlanta, where OutKast was fusing hip-hop with funk and soul, and all the way to the club-filled streets of St. Louis where Nelly was making the masses dance.

Reese's expertly crafted narrative not only follows the changing musical landscape but also the societal, technological, and political changes that shaped and were simultaneously shaped by the genre. As the internet emerged and music became digital, hip-hop saw an unprecedented spread across the globe.

This enlightening guide offers you insight into:

•The Digital Revolution: How platforms like Napster, iTunes, and YouTube changed the game
•The Mainstream Boom: Hip-hop's journey from the streets to the Billboard Hot 100
•Diversification of the Genre: The emergence of sub-genres like Crunk, Trap, and Conscious Rap
•Hip-Hop on Screen: The genre's influence on movies and TV series
•New Faces, New Sounds: The rise of artists like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z
•Social Commentary: The role of hip-hop in addressing social and political issues

Experience a decade of innovation, evolution, and influence, where hip-hop not only dominated the airwaves but also became a critical cultural and social force. 

"The History of Hip Hop: Volume 4" paints an engaging picture of a transformative era in hip-hop history, where the beat of the streets echoed around the world, setting the pace for the future of music. Dive in and feel the pulse of the first decade of the 2000s, an era that shaped the sound of contemporary hip-hop.