Hi, I’m Dart Adams. Many of you know me as an unapologetic critic of art, music and film. Some of you are already familiar with me because you follow me on Twitter and Instagram. The rest of you that don’t really should because I’m absolutely brilliant. I write and lecture but most importantly, I read. I’d like to share with the Killer Boombox community five must have books on a variety of subjects which come in more than the traditional formats that either have all been released this year or are now available for pre-order. Being that I’m journalist I fully appreciate a good book and I love recommending them to others. Where’s MY book, you ask? Umm…Let’s get started, shall we?
Dust & Grooves: Adventures In Record Collecting by Eilon Paz (Dust & Grooves)
Music lover, photographer and record collector Eilon Paz began visiting his friends all across the globe and taking photos of them and their record collections as a type of passion project. He’d interview them, ask them about their collections and how they acquired them then post it on a blog called Dust & Grooves. It soon grew from there into a spellbinding 7 pound book full of gorgeous full color photographs and interviews from some of the most prominent and world renowned musicians, DJ’s and record collectors you can imagine. This high quality, gorgeous 416 page coffee table book contains a section containing over 250 photos cataloguing 130 record collectors & the second half consists of 12 in depth interviews. Cop “Dust & Grooves” directly from the site.
Civil Rights & The Making Of The Modern American State by Megan Ming Francis (Cambridge University Press)
Megan Ming Francis is an assistant professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University who has researched and written a thorough book framing the Civil Rights Movement into historical context like I’ve rarely ever seen done. This book traces the timeline of the entire movement going back to 1909 after the former Niagra Movement leaders became the NAACP and actively began combating the rise of public hangings and a wave of mob violence that resulted in not only lynchings but entire Black communities being ran out of towns and counties between 1909 and 1923. This book decomposes all of the steps and the actions that led to the landmark 1954 Brown vs. The Board Of Education decision 60 years ago. If you’re a history buff like I am then you need this incredible book in your life. I was put on to this one by my dude FWMJ who happens to date the author. Cop it from Amazon now.
This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative On Race, Class & Education by José Luis Vilson (Haymarket Books)
José Luis Vilson teaches math in Washington Heights in New York in addition to being an activist in the field of education. I read many articles he wrote in regards to the daunting task of teaching math in the inner city, the inequity that exists in the field plus the need to rethink and reform how math is taught and how to engage pupils. After reading his many articles and following him on Twitter he announced he was releasing his own book (previously he contributed to the book “Teaching 2030”) and I just knew I needed to help get the word out. “This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative On Race, Class & Education” tackles the current education crisis of teaching to standardized tests and metrics that work against the best interest of the students. He also explains how race, class & inequity all play into the scholastic landscape and frames it for educators and readers alike. You can purchase this important book from Amazon as well.
Check The Technique Vol. 2: More Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies by Brian Coleman (Wax Facts)
I grew up reading Brian Coleman’s articles and pieces as a youngin’. Brian Coleman is a music journalists music journalist. He was in all the venues I heard about as a kid but I never stepped foot in. The first time I met Brian Coleman it was at the Brick Records 15th anniversary show and I was introduced to him by Chris Faraone. He then told us stories about The Rathskeller and CBGB and I was in music fan heaven. After authoring essential Hip-Hop books like “Rakim Told Me” & “Check The Technique” I was wondering what else Brian Coleman had in the works. He told me about how he was finishing up “Check The Technique Vol. 2” the night we were all at the now discontinued Fourth Wall Project for the “Beat Box: A Drum Machine Obsession” book party. I looked at Brian mouth agape as he told me about the making of “Amerikkka’s Most Wanted”. I knew then that I needed to read this book. It was all cemented by the time I met Adam Mansbach (who wrote the foreword) & Brian when they were finalizing the project. If you appreciate Hip-Hop or even music nerdery/minutiae period you need this 540 page book in your life. It will be released in October but if you pre-order it now, it will be shipped to you early (starting September 18th). “Check The Technique Vol. 2” is available for pre-order from Get On Down right now.
Here I Am by Lisa Leone (Minor Matters Books)
I was completely in the dark about this book until about three days ago. I follow Harry Allen & Crazy Legs of Rock Steady Crew on Twitter and Harry Allen was having a discussion with Rosie Perez about something or other. Rosie Perez RT’s a link, Crazy Legs RT’s the same link but added something to it and Harry Allen RT’s THAT link. After seeing that link RT’d on my timeline three times that quickly by three luminaries I respect I had to look into it. The link lead me to “Here I Am”, a book of photos that’s being released in conjunction with an exhibit at The Bronx Museum Of The Arts that will run from September 13th, 2014 to January 11th, 2015. Photographer/director Lisa Leone put together a book full of images combined with text contributions from Fab 5 Freddy, Popmaster Fabel, MARE139, Debbie Mazar, Rosie Perez & Nas that will be published on Minor Matters Books if it receives 500 pre-orders before July 31st. It’s July 4th today so we have work to do because this book NEEDS to see a release. Please go pre-order “Here I Am” from Minor Matters Books right now.
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