Overview

'One of the most rewarding pieces of hip-hop criticism ever written' - Jeff Chang 'Brilliant' - Giles Peterson 'Will Ashon's dazzling study gets to the heart of hip hop, pop culture and the history of contemporary America. Essential' - Matt Thorne 'Each of these chambers contains wonders of history, destiny and mythology' Margo Jefferson Will Ashon tells, in 36 interlinked 'chambers', the story of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and how it changed the world. As unexpected and complex as the album itself, Chamber Music ranges from provocative essays to semi-comic skits, from deep scholarly analysis to satirical celebration, seeking to contextualise, reveal and honour this singularly composite work of art. From the FBI's war on drugs to the porn theatres of 42nd street, from the history of jazz to the future of politics, Chamber Music is an explosive and revelatory new way of writing about music and culture.

Full Product Details

9781783784042

Table of Contents

Reviews

Like the work of art it takes as its subject, Ashon's book is stylistically loaded, reckless, funny, naked, thorough, thoughtful, mysterious, devastating, unrelenting, and compassionate. One of the most rewarding pieces of hip-hop criticism ever written -- Jeff Chang, author * We Gon' Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation * One of the most essential pieces of rap writing since Nelson George himself. Five mics. -- Nikesh Shukla Brilliant -- Gilles Peterson A remarkable achievement and the sort of writing this landmark album deserves. Unconstrained, relentless and deeply moving for fans of Wu-Tang. Just plain dope. -- Guy Gunaratne An awesome slice of hip hop history -- Jeffrey Boakye Will Ashon's dazzling study gets to the heart of hip hop, pop culture and the history of contemporary America. Essential -- Matt Thorne I loved it. Passionately written, diligently researched, lovingly rendered. A breathtaking effort that is as broad in its scope as all books about albums should be. -- Kate Tempest Each of these chambers contains wonders of history, destiny and mythology. Enter the Wu-Tang (in 36 Pieces) is hiphop as race and class politics, as music and as poetry on the move. Through Ashton's vibrant textured prose we watch in awe as these young men seize on whatever the culture has to offer, sampling leftovers and legacies, making themselves into ferocious artists -- Margo Jefferson Will Ashon has come up with something really special * Observer * A collage of disparate but enticing fragments, like Wu-Tang's music - rich with sampling, allusions, oblique references and confusing tangents. It's ambitious, flawed and a lot more fun than any straight album biography would be -- Dan Hancox * Observer * [A] future classic * Skinny * [A] loving, knowing portrait of mannerist urban subcultures -- Best Books of the Year (chosen by Keith Miller) * TLS *

Author Information

Will Ashon is the author of Strange Labyrinth (Granta, 2017) and two novels. He previously ran BIG DADA records where his artists included Roots Manuva, MF DOOM, Kate Tempest and Diplo.

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