"The Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most charismatic and talented artists of the 1990s. Born Christopher Wallace and raised in Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie lived an almost archetypal rap life: young trouble, drug dealing, guns, prison, a giant hit record, the wealth and international superstardom that came with it, then an early violent death. Biggie released his first record, Ready to Die, in 1994, when he was only 22. Less than three...

"Otis Redding remains an immortal presence in the canon of American music on the strength of such classic hits as "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Try a Little Tenderness," and "Respect," a song he wrote and recorded before Aretha Franklin made it her own. As the architect of the distinctly southern, gospel-inflected style of rhythm & blues associated with Stax Records in Memphis, Redding made music that has long...

"From the streets of Baltimore to the halls of the New Mexico Philharmonic, a musician shares his remarkable story in I'm Possible, an inspiring memoir of perseverance and possibility. Growing up, Richard Antoine White and his mother didn't have a key to a room or a house. Sometimes they had shelter, but they never had a place to call home. Still, they always had each other, and from a young age, Richard believed he could look after his mother, even...

This insightful biography looks at the turbulent lives, groundbreaking music and lyrics, and powerful brand of hip hop's infamous Wu-Tang Clan.
The Wu-Tang Clan and RZA: A Trip through Hip Hop's 36 Chambers chronicles the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan from an underground supergroup to a globally recognized musical conglomerate. Enhanced by the author's one-on-one interviews with group members, the book covers the entire...

Author Mark Beaumont met and interviewed Jay Z in 2009 and many quotes from that interview feature in this biography. This book features details about his early life, his father abadoning him, his accidental shooting of his brother, and his delving into cocaine dealing.

"In his page-turning and inspiring first book, legendary songwriter and recording artist Jason Derulo shares his 15 rules for finding success in any pursuit, and invites everyone--especially artists and creators--to start on their path to greatness. In 2009, an 18-year-old son of Haitian immigrants burst onto Billboard music charts with the instant #1 song, "Whatcha Say," which sampled a surprising hook and opened with what would prove to be one of...

Questlove--musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore--shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life. In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he's heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise readers...

This is an in-depth biography of one of music's most fascinating, colourful and innovative characters - Dr Funkenstein. He stands alongside James Brown as one of the most influential black artists of all time and along with his P-Funk Collective, took black funk into the US charts and sold out stadiums by the mid 1970s with his extravagant shows.

A biography of the Motown group, who burst upon the music scene in the early sixties with five-part harmonies and synchronized dance steps that became their trademark. "The frank, revealing story of Motown's legendary super group, told by the group's founder. The Temptations burst onto the music scene in the early sixties with velvety smooth five-part harmonies and synchronized dance steps that were to become their trademark. But from the start,...

Born blind into a life of slavery in Georgia, Thomas Wiggins was dismissed as a "useless burden." But through the loving protection of his family, he went on to become one of the greatest musicians of his time --