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Reviews
New
York Ricans from
the Hip Hop Zone
By Raquel Z. Rivera
New
York Ricans from
the Hip Hop Zone is the first book to explore the Puerto Rican dimension of
hip-hop. This volume explores the history of hip-hop music from
the standpoint of the New York Puerto Rican community, which has
been instrumental in its development.
New York Puerto Ricans have been an integral part of
hip hop culture since the very beginning: from 1970s pioneers like
Rock Steady Crew's Jo-Jo, to recent rap mega-stars Big Punisher
and Angie Martinez. Yet, Puerto Rican participation and
contributions to hip hop is frequently downplayed, if not
completely ignored. When their presence has been acknowledged, it
is usually misinterpreted as a defection from Puerto Rican culture
and identity into the African American camp. But, Rivera argues
nothing could be further from the truth. Through hip-hop, Puerto
Ricans have simply stretched the boundaries of Puerto Ricanness
and latinidad.
New
York Ricans from
the Hip Hop Zone
breaks with
the common assumption that, in terms of cultural history and
artistic expression, Puerto Ricans share more with
"Latinos" than with black communities. Using hip hop
culture as a focal point, Rivera draws parallels—past and
present—between African Americans and Puerto Ricans by
highlighting their shared New York City history and their both
being part of the African Diaspora in the Americas
* * * * *
Raquel has done the
unthinkable—she has triumphed in creating what hip hop DJs
normally call a remix. She has remixed history and shed light on a
valuable coexistence that is normally shunned by the
media—namely, Boriquas represent.
—BOBBITO GARCIA, DJ
Cucumberslice
Big Pun, Fat Joe,
Angie Martinez, La Bruja and many other Puerto Rican rappers speak
out here in full voice, and the result is the most authoritative
and exciting account of the Nuyorican role in hip hop to date.
—JUAN FLORES, author of From
Bomba to Hip Hop: Puerto Rican Culture and Latino Identity
Raquel untangles
this wildly woven fabric called hip hop and uncovers the
unbreakable strands of Puerto Ricans that have been in all the
elements of hip hop since day one. Clap your hands
everybody!!!"
—CHARLIE CHASE, pioneering
DJ and MC, Cold Crush Brothers
It's about time that
a book has come out showing the contribution Puerto Ricans have
made to the hip hop movement.
—JAMEL SHABAZZ,
photographer, Back in the Days
A much-needed
examination of New York Puerto Ricans' essential contributions to
and continued vitality in the hip hop universe. Rivera's edgy mix
of academic research and inner-circle interviews help redefine the
way we look at urban street culture.
—ED MORALES, author, Living
in Spanglish
Smart and
provocative, New York Ricans from the Hip Hop Zone is
written with clarity and style by someone who knows both hip hop
and Puerto Rican culture from the inside out. Not only a must
read, it's a great read.
—DEBORAH PACINI HERNANDEZ,
Tufts University |
