Overview

Murda', Misogyny, and Mayhem: Hip-Hop and the Culture of Abnormality in the Urban Community is a sociological work that utilizes a historical materialist perspective to expose the harmful effects of hip hop as a regulated industry, music, and culture. Spencer skillfully uses works by Antonio Gramsci and Paolo Freire as a backdrop to analyze how ""hip hop"" media reflects the stereotypical images that were used to justify enslavement, influences the culture of abnormality in the African American (urban) community, and promotes the prison industrial complex. This work is exceptionally innovative because it places the destruction of urban life and the urban experience in a theoretical and qualitative methodological frame. In so doing, Spencer thoroughly dissects the nature and purpose of the media as an industry designed to manipulate public perception of African Americans in the urban community. This careful analysis allows the reader to examine the relationship between the presentation of hip hop and the prevalence of murder, misogyny, and mayhem in the urban community.

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9780761855125

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Reviews

From the Foreword: This is a timely work because it speaks directly to the state of the African-American community and goes to the heart of the popular cultural form that is most responsible for the decline in respect, dignity, linguistic propriety, and morality.... Spencer comes to this subject with the sharp scalpel of a keen observer and a participant in the searches and discoveries of a generation in the throes of forgetfulness....The question one asks after reading this insightful book by Zoe Spencer is, 'Do we have the will to do what we will?' I have to answer that question in the affirmative because now more than ever I know that there are many readers who share the ideas expressed in this important book. [This book] will become a standard in its field. -- Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, author of <I>The History of Africa<I>

From the Foreword: This is a timely work because it speaks directly to the state of the African-American community and goes to the heart of the popular cultural form that is most responsible for the decline in respect, dignity, linguistic propriety, and morality . Spencer comes to this subject with the sharp scalpel of a keen observer and a participant in the searches and discoveries of a generation in the throes of forgetfulness .The question one asks after reading this insightful book by Zoe Spencer is, 'Do we have the will to do what we will?' I have to answer that question in the affirmative because now more than ever I know that there are many readers who share the ideas expressed in this important book. [This book] will become a standard in its field.--Dr. Molefi Kete Asante

From the Foreword: This is a timely work because it speaks directly to the state of the African-American community and goes to the heart of the popular cultural form that is most responsible for the decline in respect, dignity, linguistic propriety, and morality!. Spencer comes to this subject with the sharp scalpel of a keen observer and a participant in the searches and discoveries of a generation in the throes of forgetfulness!.The question one asks after reading this insightful book by Zoe Spencer is, 'Do we have the will to do what we will?' I have to answer that question in the affirmative because now more than ever I know that there are many readers who share the ideas expressed in this important book. [This book] will become a standard in its field. -- Dr. Molefi Kete Asante

From the Foreword: This is a timely work because it speaks directly to the state of the African-American community and goes to the heart of the popular cultural form that is most responsible for the decline in respect, dignity, linguistic propriety, and morality... Spencer comes to this subject with the sharp scalpel of a keen observer and a participant in the searches and discoveries of a generation in the throes of forgetfulness...The question one asks after reading this insightful book by Zoe Spencer is, 'Do we have the will to do what we will?' I have to answer that question in the affirmative because now more than ever I know that there are many readers who share the ideas expressed in this important book. [This book] will become a standard in its field. -- Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, author of The History of Africa

Author Information

Zoe Spencer is an associate professor of sociology at Virginia State University. Her research interests range from the sociopolitical influence on global capitalism to African American studies. She has dedicated her life to not only academia but also social and political activism and raising the consciousness of students and community members through her presentations, research, and publications.

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