"The masterful art of chess, Kung-fu sword play, and the sweet science of boxing are all hip-hop expressions that connect us universally. Beatboxing tells the story. It's razor sharp."--Masta Killa, Wu-Tang Clan
Step into a world of rap moguls turned fight promoters, boxers turned rappers, and rappers turned boxers. From Mike Tyson to Tupac, from Roy Jones Jr. to J. Prince, explore how a cultural collision forever altered the relationship between music, race, sports, and politics. Daryl McDonald of Run-DMC once said that the rhyme Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see was hip-hop's most famous lyric. Muhammad Ali's poetic brilliance and swagger--ignited by hype man Bundini Brown--gave hip-hop artists the template from which they forged their identities and performed their art. Hip-hop's impact on boxing, on the other hand, has not been explored. Until now. In Beatboxing, Todd Snyder uncovers the unique connection between hip-hop and the sweet science, tracing a grassroots cultural movement from its origins in the South Bronx to its explosion across the globe and ultimately into the charged environment of the prize ring. Featuring interviews with champion fighters and music legends, this is the definitive book about an enduring phenomenon and is a must-read for boxing and hip-hop fans alike.TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tale of the (Cassette) Tape
Check the Rhime
Streets Is Watching
Brooklyn Go Hard
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Walk This Way
Welcome to the Terrordome
Me Against the World
Ambitionz Az a Ridah
Dirty South
Y'all Must've Forgot
Lean Back
Get Money
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
What's Beef?
Hate It or Love It
Watch the Throne
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
Don't Call It a Comeback
Songs that Reference Boxing Personalities
Noteworthy Hip-Hop Collaborations with Boxers
Noteworthy Hip-Hop Songs Specifically Crafted for Boxing
Noteworthy Hip-Hop Songs by Boxers