This addition to the B-Boy Blues series about the developing love of Raheim Rivers and Mitchell Crawford shows how their relationship is tested by the specter of AIDS. Ribers' complacency is shattered when he learns that his idol Eazy-E has AIDS. Rivers gets tested and the narrative concerns the long waiting period until he learns his test result - a period when his own fear and the stigma of the disease push him towards conflicting decisions. The previous three books have sold well over 100,000 copies
The maverick music mogul who put rap on the map recounts his riveting career comprising delirious highs and shocking lows, cocaine-fueled mega-deals, brutal wranglings, and the uncanny insight that made a middle-aged, Jewish white guy the most successful record company executive of the rap era.
1994. Years before "homo thug" and "down low" became infamous catchphrases, Omar Little put the "G" in Gangsta on HBO's The Wire, and Lil Nas X became a global pop star ... there was B-BOY BLUES. Revisit or experience for the first time the story that ushered in the Africentric gay fiction genre, and put Black-on-Black male love on both the map and the bestseller lists! SYNOPSIS: Mitchell Crawford always wished, hoped, and dreamed for a RUFFNECK - a hip-hop-lovin', street-struttin', cool posin', crazy crotch-grabbin' brotha. And he finally finds one in Raheim Rivers, who is a vision of lust: six feet tall and 215 pounds of mocha-chocolate muscle. Mitchell knows Raheim will take him for a walk on the wild side. But he doesn't count on getting behind Raheim's mask - and finding someone he can love. Praise for B-Boy Blues: "Hardy has successfully crafted the first gay hip hop love story. It sexily sizzles off the page." - E. Lynn Harris "Not since Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts has it felt so good to be loved so bad. Grade: A-." - Entertainment Weekly "Hardy proves that Black love is just as dizzying and gratifying when boy meets boy." - Vibe "A masterpiece of both Black and gay literature." - Booklist Cover image: Alyxandria Fabrega @artbyalyx Cover models: Timothy Richardson & Thomas Mackie aka Mitchell & Raheim from @bboybluesthefilm (currently streaming on @betplus) Cover design: Tony Dobson @hallsongraphics
You're now about to witness the story of a little boy who was born and raised in Compton, California. His journey began as a young man who grew up poor but would eventually evolve to become part of the "World's Most Dangerous Group." They would be known as one of the most influential groups in the history of hip-hop music. What's their name? N.W.A. His life would take him to the highest of heights in music to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His story will take you on a rollercoaster ride, starting from the beginning of his music career to the rise and breakup of the group. He will also share some of his private moments in the final years of the life of his friend, Eazy-E. This is the untold story of Antoine "DJ Yella" Carraby, who's coming...Straight Outta Compton.
"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era." -- Kirkus, starred review A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. And they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever -- Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.'s shocking success lead to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap's peak, two of its biggest names -- Tupac and Biggie Smalls -- were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.
The death of high school basketball star Rob Washington in an automobile accident affects the lives of his close friend Andy, who was driving the car, and many others in the school.
In a tribute to the late author E. Lynn Harris, three authors present stories about the romantic lives of gay African-Americans, with each story paired with the author's personal memories of Harris and how he influenced them.
From the concert stage to the dressing room, from the recording studio to the digital realm, SPIN surveys the modern musical landscape and the culture around it with authoritative reporting, provocative interviews, and a discerning critical ear. With dynamic photography, bold graphic design, and informed irreverence, the pages of SPIN pulsate with the energy of today's most innovative sounds. Whether covering what's new or what's next, SPIN is your monthly VIP pass to all that rocks.
