Rakim Told Me

About the Book Sample Pages Press Quotes

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRIAN COLEMAN’S
“RAKIM TOLD ME”

“Rock historiography is full of lore about the making of canonical albums, but there hasn’t been much like that for the rap world – until now.”
-- Michaelangelo Matos, VillageVoice.com

“Lamenting the fact that rap albums lack liner notes, author Brian Coleman takes matters into his own hands, revisiting 21 landmark releases to fill
in the anecdotes.”
-- Steve Kandell, Blender

“… an excellent new hip-hop book… Coleman has that vet’s awareness to frame each album’s story and let the artists’ own quotes tell the tale.”
-- Mike Wolf, Time Out New York

“If ‘Rakim Told Me’ was just a book about classic hip-hop records, it would be more than enough. But it's better than that: every page of this book intimately reveals the struggle, the craft, and the genius of some of the most brilliant artists in any genre of the last two decades. I carry this book around
like a bible.”
-- Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation

“Coleman’s project captures the intoxicating mix of genius, charisma and arrogance that’s personified by the superintendents of old-school hip-hop… Ounce for ounce, ‘Rakim Told Me’ is one of the most intimate glances at the magic behind hip-hop that I’ve ever experienced.”
-- Chris Faraone, Boston’s Weekly Dig