Philosophy & Hip Hop: Ruminations on Postmodern Cultural Form

Bringing the tools of philosophy to hip-hop, Julius Bailey's powerful and profound ruminations are a welcomed addition to the growing body of literature in Hip Hop Studies. Philosophy and Hip-Hop legitimizes hip-hop in traditional philosophical canons while opening up the discourse on human nature and relationships in post-colonial settings. This book is simultaneously academic, emotional, theoretical and imaginary. It is a must-read for who care about teaching and learning.

True heads know that hip-hop is about much more than beats & rhymes. It's also about dropping knowledge. Philosopher Julius Bailey schools us on how hip-hop serves up potent medicine for dealing with the existential angst of our lived human experience. He proves that we have more reason to respect not reject this art form born of struggle."

Julius Bailey is establishing himself as a leading scholar probing the rich philosophical depths of hip-hop culture. Here, in this series of 'Ruminations,' Bailey demonstrates why such probing matters for philosophers, students and hip-hop heads, alike. Contextualizing postmodern philosophical inquiry for a hip-hop generation as much as demonstrating the pedagogical acumen of hip-hop, this text is a valuable contribution to contemporary discussions of identity and difference. I highly recommend the read!

Julius Bailey demonstrates, with aplomb, the wonderful ways that hip-hip operates as a discursive space for philosophical exploration. This is a creative, engaging, and insightful approach to both philosophy and hip-hop, giving a thoroughly rewarding study to students of popular music, cultural studies, aesthetic philosophy and, of course, hip-hop in particular. This is a great addition to the ever-expanding body of scholarship on hip-hop.