Gutter's occasional review of books YOU need on your shelf. Unlike most book review links, we've decided to forgo the usual Amazon link and suggest you hit up homeboys Atomic Books in Hamden. They're local and we support that and so should you. If they don't have the book, we're sure that Big Ben can get it for you!

And if UR from B-more, you know why it's called Lib'ary...

Black Will Shoot: A Novel (Paperback)
by Jesse Washington
Simon Spotlight Entertainment

Washington’s first book is a wafer thinly fictionalized account of a music journalist who’s trying to get the goods on the gunning of hip-hop superstar Bigg….errrr…Large. Washington’s experience as a senior editor at the fer real magazines Vibe and Blaze lend authenticity to the shady glam world in which his fake journalist Marquis Wise inhabits. We couldn’t put this shit down. Great read for anyone who’s interested in what goes on and who’s possibly behind the big title rap mags. Washington’s narrative includes a character who, though a junkie, is the true voice of rap from back in the day. Which brings us to…

Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
by Jeff Chang and D.J. Kool Herc
Picador Press

We were surprised to find that not many of our G-fam had heard of this awesome 2005 Bible of  the history of hip-hop. This is the real deal here. Starting with the fall of the gangs in the South Bronx in the early ‘70s and the street parties of Afrika Bambaataa through the rise of graf art, Rasta grooves, breakin’, Grandmaster Flash,  LA riots, bling and Kristal and ending with a snap at the over-produced pop rap music that’s with us today. This book is a  MUST for any music fan. PERIOD. 

Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop
Photos by Joe Condo
by Johan Kugelberg
Universe Press

Say ho! Say ho! Say What?! This photo-diary of the early days of rap is the perfect, and we mean PERFECT companion to Can’t Stop Won’t Stop. Though the text is valuable too, this book is all about the photos. And the fashion. And the fro’s. And the flyers. And the Mutha Sucka’s. And the…well ya get it. E’body say HO!