Tupac Shakur : Holler If You Hear Me - Softcover

MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, named by Ebony as one of the hundred most influential black Americans, is the author of more than fifteen books, including April 4, 1968, Is Bill Cosby Right?, Presidential Race, and I May Not Get There with You: The True Martin Luther King, Jr. He is currently a professor of sociology at Georgetown University. He lives in Washington, DC.

''Among the young black intellectuals to emerge since the demise of the civil rights movement . . . [Dyson is] undoubtedly the most insightful and thought-provoking.'' -- Manning Marable, author of Malcolm X

''This book should be an instant classic--not because it is above criticism, but rather because it provides the most profound analysis of the significance of Tupac Shakur and the most sophisticated understanding of the complexity of today's hip-hop culture and the plight of its major creators--black young people.''-- Cornel West, New York Times bestselling author

''At last, one of our most talented critics and writers, Michael Eric Dyson, explains the myth and meaning of Tupac. Holler If You Hear Me is a riveting read that brings together the wisdom of people who knew, loved, and thought about his lost talent. Miss this book and you'll lose a chance to understand the enduring creativity and power of black youth, those roses that grow from concrete and that flower in even the most harrowing circumstances.'' --Quincy Jones, composer and producer

''Without question, Michael Eric Dyson is among the most dynamic teachers that I have ever met. His insights are deeply rooted in an understanding of history, and our people's place in it, as is abundantly clear in Holler If You Hear Me. These qualities appear in all of his writing, which not only make his work enjoyable but vital. He is remarkably informed and equally approachable. And on top of that, he ain't no square. You gotta love that.'' -- Mos Def, rap artist

''Such is the genius of Dyson. He flows freely from the profound to the profane, from popular culture to classical literature.'' -- Washington Post

''Paints a nuanced picture of his subject while illuminating the effect hip-hop has had on America.'' --New Yorker

''Riffs with speed, eloquence, bawdy humor, and startling truths that have the effect of hitting you like a Mack truck.'' -- San Francisco Examiner

''A major American thinker and cultural critic.'' -- Philadelphia Inquirer

''More than a music bio, the book will draw the attention of socially conscious readers who are interested in how hip-hop affects society.'' -- Publishers Weekly

''[A] well-written, intelligent, and energetically investigative work.'' -- Library Journal

''In literate and streetwise style, Dyson describes and dissects Shakur's world . . . Piquant and analytical, Dyson's is arguably the best 2pac bio 2 date.'' --Booklist