This book examines the origins of many styles of hip-hop music, such as crunk and gangsta rap, and explores how they burst into the mainstream and went global. A timeline, glossary, essential facts, references, websites, source notes, and an index are also provided.

The birth of the scratch -- The roots of hip-hop -- Mainstream music -- Hip-hop goes political -- East Coast versus West Coast -- World music -- New hip-hop -- Hip-hop's future.