a list of books, dvds and other resources on hip hop culture and its elements, with commentaries on those I know

Recommended readings
Hiphop-culture in general
Mostly about rap
Graffiti
dj and breakdancing

Hip hop culture in general
Fricke, Jim and Ahearn, Charlie (2002) Yes Yes Y`all. The experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop’s First Decade. Introduction by Nelson George. Da Capo Press, New York. Gives a vivid picture of the making of the hiphop culture, based on interviews by those who made it. Higly recommended.

Kitwana, Bakari (2002) The Hip Hop Generation. Young Blacks and the Crisis in African-American Culture. Basic Civitas Books, New York Deals more with the "hip hop generation" as a social and political entity than with hiphop as artform. Interesting background information.

Spady, James and Eyre, Joseph Nation Conscious Rap. A classic, must read for everyone interested in conscious rap and rap in general.

Rap and Hip hop culture (mostly on rap but with reference to the other elements)
Perkins, William Eric, ed. (1996) Droppin' Science. Critical Essays on Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture. Philadelphia. A superb collection of essays

Rose, Tricia (1994) Black Noise. Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America. New England. One of the best books written. Along with Perkins' Droppin' Science the basic re

Shapiro, Peter (2001) The Rough Guide To Hip hop. London, Penguin Books. Good for emergency situations, but the author's opinionated style stands often in the way for real understanding