Julius Bailey

So, I'd just like to expound on the awesomeness that is this book. The writing style is what first struck me about it; it's lyrical to the point of being archaic (the first chapter kept giving me Beowulf flashbacks) which is not something often attempted, much less attempted with any success. Somehow, however, in this book it just works. Where the style could have seemed high-handed, it results instead in a deep sense of respect and tenderness; and the epic unfolds vividly through the eyes show more of characters who are very real and very human.
Brandegan in particular comes to mind here; unlike other fantasy mentor characters who seem to exist merely to scold everyone else's stupidity, Brandegan doesn't lord his superior experience and abilities over his fellow-travelers, something I really appreciated. He's not a perfect hero, either--we're given glimpses into his struggles and motivations. He's not always right. And because we're allowed to see his weaknesses, the times when his nobility shines forth in its full glory are so much more satisfying.
Despite its depth (or perhaps because of it?) Strife of the Mighty is also an extremely fun read, with epic fights between men and monsters (there are some really cool monsters), a vivid landscape of myth and magic, and heroism on every level from escaping the prisons of petty tyrants to defending entire kingdoms.
Ultimately, it's an adventure story, inspiring and enjoyable, that deserves to be read and re-read and read aloud. (I have plans of reading it to my neice and nephew once they're old enough for such amazingness)
Really loved this book, and would strongly recommend it to anyone :) show less

This book, as others have mentioned, is a collection of essays examining the growth and impact of hip-hop on the sociological state of the African-American community. The focus of the work is on Jay-Z as the book indicates that his growth, impact, and presence as a musical artist is the most reflective of the state of the black community. The essayists are all acknowledged scholars with thoughtful approaches to the wider-picture as reflected through the narrow lens of Jay-Z's music.

The show more essays presented within are well-written and well-argued. The mixture of viewpoints as to the positive/negative influence of Jay-Z and hip-hop is what really lends credence to the work. Each essay pulls from a strong body of research and uses supporting sources very effectively.

As other reviewers have mentioned, there is some issues with the lack of grammatical editing but that is easy enough to ignore. The biggest issue that plagues the collection is the same issue that plagues any collection attempting to encapsulate cultural studies through focusing on popular culture. In this case, the music of Jay-Z, one of the most successful and talented hip-hop artists in the history of the genre, is used to analyze the changes affecting black communities in America and how the lifestyle, lyrics projected in the music are reflective and reactive to those changes. While the writers all present their case efficiently and effectively, the criteria (Jay-Z) they use to formulate their arguments is insufficient and insignificant when tracking such major sociological data.

I found the writing interesting and though several interesting topics were brought up but the work was limited by trying to make the academics marketable. This book might be useful in parts in an academic setting but the narrowness of the work limit its impact. show less

Most of time , Rappers or any of the Hip-Hop Impresarios get a bad RAP! Misunderstood is what I like to call it!.In this book, Dr Bailey lays the foundaton to introduce readers to what is an unbias account of sean carter! Even though, it was not biography in the least, it was a well written essay documenting an intricate portion of the Hi-hop culture

Jay-Z: Essays on Hip Hop's Philosopher King is a college level text that would be used in a class studying black history and its relationship with the progression of hip hop with a specific focus on the rapper Jay-Z. This book requires the reader to focus as each essay is digested so that the point isn't lost and it's best if the reader has access to a dictionary so as not to buried with an overwhelming feeling of "What does that mean?" My main criticism of the book is that there are many show more typos which make the essays that much harder to comprehend. Also, the book assumes a vast knowledge of hip hop with essays dropping names and not explaining their importance. In any case, this book is not for someone who knows very little of hip hop and Jay-Z nor should it be mistaken for a biography of the rapper show less