Emcees and Hip Hop personalities taking on publishing endeavors is nothing new. LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Russell Simmons, Chuck D and Jerry Heller have released autobiographies. In the last year, Common and Kurtis Blow contributed to Adam Bradley and Adam DuBois’ The Anthology of Rap, while Kool G. Rap penned the Foreward to Brian Edwards’ How To Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Other titles have included Invincible from Styles P, as well as works from The Click’s D Shot and SKG. Most notably, Jay-Z will release Decoded this month, an in-depth look at his life behind his lyrics. The book is written with pioneer Hip Hop journalist dream hampton.
Looking at 2011, it appears as though the tradition will continue. According to leading book-seller Amazon.com, Ice-T will release a newer autobiography Ice: Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption From South Central To Hollywood. This will follow 1994’s The Ice Opinion. The book is planned for February 22, 2011. The memoir is said to be co-written by Douglas Century.
Just two weeks later, one of Ice-T’s favorite emcees, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, will release My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy. The book will be co-authored by esteemed music journalist Laura Checkoway, and is said to be the main focus of Prodigy’s creative energies while he’s been incarcerated. Prodigy has been said by partner Havoc to be released from prison in February of next year, which would allow him to promote the book.
Another Queens, New York Hip Hop icon, A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, who produced for Mobb Deep, is also planning a memoir. The emcee/producer and actor is believed by Amazon to be releasing Industry Rules: The World According To Q-Tip, From Linden Boulevard To El Segundo and Beyond. The release is said to come in July, making several lyrical references to ATCQ classics in its title.
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Lastly, Boston, Massachusetts emcee and onetime co-owner in The Source magazine, Benzino is also planning to tell his story next year. The onetime front-man for both the Almighty R.S.O. and the Made Men is said to be penning, The Dynastyu: Sex, Murder, Drugs and Hip Hop on July 19. Previously, Benzino released a DVD, Arch Nemesis in 2004, telling his story. (November 9)
UPDATE: According to Amazon.com, Ice-T’s Ice: Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption From South Central To Hollywood and Prodigy’s My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy will be published on April 19, 2011.
