More music. - book review

Black Issues Book Review, May-June, 2002

One category of books that is growing in popularity these days is music books. Always a good source of material about African-American culture, recent music titles run the gamut--from black music trivia books, to biographies of Dr. Dre, Death Row Records' Suge Knight, Aaliyah, jazz vocalist Betty Carter and soul singer Otis Redding, to books about the music business, hip hop, reggae and the blues. Here's a sampling of what's available.

Aaliyah: An R&B Princess in Words and Pictures by Kelly Kenyatta, Amber Books, August 2001 $10.95, ISBN 0-970-22243-2

Although her life was cut short, Aaliyah Dana Haughton established a music and film career that survives. Her impressive career began at a young age and continued through her teenage years. But it was her debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number in 1994 that would make Aaliyah an overnight sensation.

In his biography of the young star Aaliyah: An R&B Princess in Words and Pictures, writer Kelly Kenyatta chronicles the singer's life from her days on the road with her aunt Gladys Knight to her controversial relationship with R. Kelly, to her stellar music and film career that ended with her tragic death in a plane crash. Fans of "Baby Girl" will find this book refreshing, with its focus on Aaliyah's life and her desire to achieve her dream of becoming a star and how she made that dream a reality.

The book reflects the optimism that Aaliyah expressed in a MTV interview: "You should wake up every day and love what you do. And I honestly do, from the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul."

Westside: The Coast-To-Coast Explosion of Hip Hop by William Shaw, Cooper Square Press, February 2002 $16.95, ISBN 0-815-41196-0

Putting his skills as a reporter and journalist to work, William Shaw chronicles the lives of seven young men in South Central Los Angeles who aspire to become successful in the music industry. Their lives in the inner city are filled with violence and hardship, not so dissimilar to the street life portrayed by rappers that have made "thug life" famous.

You Forgot About Dre: The Unauthorized Biography of Dr. Dre and Eminem by Kelly Kenyatta, Amber Books, January 2001 $10.95, ISBN 0-970-22249-1

Dr. Dre and Eminem are two very recognizable names in the hip-hop community, and Kelly Kenyatta's biography gives fans of both entertainers insight into their climb up the hip-hop ladder.

Dre's music roots go back to his days as a writer and producer for the rapper Easy E, and it was this relationship that led to the creation of the group N.W.A.--Niggaz With Attitude. The group earned a reputation for its gangsta rap, hardcore lyrics and the controversy surrounding the single "Fuck tha Police."

Later, Dr. Dre became a partner in the infamous Death Row Records. At Death Row, Dre produced several hit albums including Doggystyle, Snoop Dogg's debut album.

But after legal troubles with the record label, Dre departed Death Row and started his own label, Aftermath Records. One of Aftermath's best-selling artists, Eminem, debuted his album, The Slim Shady LP, which sold millions.

Suge Knight: The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Death Row Records by Jake Brown, Colossus Books, March 2002 $21.95, ISBN 0-970-22247-5

The name Suge Knight is infamous in the world of hip hop. As head of Death Row Records, Knight created a "family" of rappers, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. Jake Brown's profile of Death Row, examines how Suge Knight, through his relationship with rappers and others in the music industry, changed the American music business.

Knight's early years growing up in Los Angeles--specifically, Compton--and how that influenced his role as head of Death Row records are also explored. Suge's reputation for strong-arm business tactics and how that approach was used to bribe and manipulate are also documented. For those interested in the music industry, the book offers insight into the business-side and a bit of hip-hop history.

Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters by Robert Gordon, Little, Brown and Company, May 2002, $25.95, ISBN 0-316-32849-9

Long before the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, there was Muddy Waters. The inventor of electric blues, Waters has influenced generations of rock and roll musicians, a pretty impressive career for someone who came out of the cotton fields. In this definitive biography, music fans learn all there is to know about this true rock and roll legend.

Take Care of Your Music Business by John P. Kellogg, PJ's Publishing, 2000 $29.95, ISBN 0-967-58730-1

The music industry is more than creating a hit record. There is a lot of work that goes on behind-the-scenes. New York lawyer John P. Kellogg provides vital information on the ins and outs of the music business. The guide offers helpful information about key players in the music business, including artists and songwriters, producers, lawyers and accountants.

Otis!: The Otis Redding Story by Scott Freeman, St. Martin's Press, December 2001 $23.95, ISBN 0-312-26217-5