Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Literature

Hip Hop literature also known as urban fiction or street lit is a type of writing evocative of the harsh realities of life in the inner city. Beginning with seminal works by such writers as Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim and culminating in contemporary fiction autobiography and poetry Hip Hop literature is exerting the same kind of influence as Hip Hop music fashion and culture. Through more than 180 alphabetically arranged entries this encyclopedia surveys the world of Hip Hop literature and places it in its social and cultural contexts. Entries cite works for further reading and a bibliography concludes the volume.Coverage includes authors genres and works as well as on the musical artists fashion designers directors and other figures who make up the context of Hip Hop literature. Entries cite works for further reading and the encyclopedia concludes with a selected general bibliography. Students in literature classes will value this guide to an increasingly popular body of literature while students in social studies classes will welcome its illumination of American cultural diversity.