Contemporary Black Urban Music - by Ron Westray (Hardcover)

About the Book

This course will examine Contemporary Black Urban Music and its historical development by tracing the evolution of soul and funk music into rap and hip-hop.

Book Synopsis

Specific objectives of the book include the discussion of the historical evolution of CBUM/Hip-Hop, and the development (and retention) of an informed perspective regarding legendary figures, bands, and genres in CBUM. The examination of the historical, social, and economic implications of CBUM that lead to the globalization of Hip-Hop, an understanding of how CBUM is perceived and measured in society, and the student's ability to describe a range of effects fostered by the evolution of CBUM, all factor highly in this book.

Review Quotes

"I can imagine no better way to learn about Contemporary Black Urban Music: The Revolution of Hip-Hop than from Ron Westray's masterful book. Aimed at the uninitiated, students would gain more from this text through its thorough, concentrated, conversational approach than from any one or any way else. Masterful teaching through which students will become initiates and scholars" -- Jerred Metz, author, The Last Eleven Days of Earl Durand, poet, Jackdaw: A Phantasmagoria; faculty, Strayer University and Coker College, USA.

"Westray's Contemporary Black Urban Music is a guide that musicians, teachers and students will want to keep close to hand. Westray's historical survey provides brief but illuminating capsule portraits of more than a hundred major Hip-Hop artists and many of their predecessors. The book takes the classroom of a non-specialist university course as its source of orientation. Though not a theoretical work, for the student it offers a rich panorama of incentives to explore historical relations and critical issues. (Westray doesn't take sides.) The abundant links to examples on the public internet guarantee that any reader who wants to study an artistic movement in Hip-Hop, a particular artist, or artistic controversy will have the needed resources. Westray often concludes his short chapters with 'zoom outs', adding context and perspective to this book about music that does not neglect associated Hip-Hop arts" -- David Lidov, Professor Emeritus, York University, Canada.

About the Author

Widely regarded as one of the greatest music educators of our time, Ron Westray continues to expand upon the legacy set before him.