Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole blazed paths that salvaged socially conscious rap at a pivotal time in history.
Conscious rap, a subgenre of hip-hop music that engages in dialogue about social and political issues and often challenges systems of oppression, ascended with pioneers like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, A Tribe Called Quest, and other acts at the helm. But in recent decades, it lost much of its favor in pop culture and mainstream hip-hop.
While many new artists have abandoned the subgenre in exchange for music trends linked to instantaneous success, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have preserved the lyrical prowess and revolutionary spirit of their hip-hop forefathers. Jeremy C. McCool and Earl Hopkins explore the evolution of the subgenre and chronicle the rise of Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, two of the biggest names in conscious rap today.
About the Authors
Earl Hopkins is an award-winning arts and culture reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. As a hip-hop critic and historian, he has contributed high-profile interviews, album reviews, and rap history guides for Billboard, Complex, GRAMMY.com, SPIN, and other platforms.
Jeremy C. McCool is an Associate Professor of Digital/Global Media at West Chester University, USA. He is a cultural critic and scholar whose work explores the complexities of hip-hop, social consciousness, technology, and Black identity. His contributions have earned him honors such as Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 award and West Liberty University’s Hughes Lecturer distinction.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Preface
1. The Birth of Conscious Rap
2. The Millennial Shift
3. The Rise of King Cole
4. From K. Dot to West Coast Savant
5. Policing, Politics & Pens
6. College, Capitalism & Religion
7. D.R.A.K.E
8. The Survival of Intellectual Rap
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index