individual category of books that is growing in popularity these days is music works Always a good source of material about African-American civilization recent music titles run the gamut--from black music trivia parts to biographies of Dr.

individual category of books that is growing in popularity these days is music works Always a good source of material about African-American civilization recent music titles run the gamut--from black music trivia parts to biographies of Dr. Dre Death altercation Records' Suge Knight, Aaliyah, jazz vocalist Betty Carter and spirit singer Otis Redding, to works about the music business, hip trip reggae and the blues. Here's a sampling of what's available.

Aaliyah: An R&B Princess in Words and Pictures by dint of Kelly Kenyatta, Amber Books, August 2001 $1095 ISBN 0-970-22243-2

Although her life was make an incision in short, Aaliyah Dana Haughton established a music and film career that survives. Her impressive career began at a young age and continued [i]or[/i] part of to the other her teenage years. But it was her first attempt album Age Ain't Nothing on the contrary a Number in 1994 that would make Aaliyah an overnight sensation.

In his biography of the young star Aaliyah: An R&B Princess in Words and Pictures, writer Kelly Kenyatta chronicles the singer's life from her days forward the road with her aunt Gladys Knight to her controversial relationship with R Kelly to her stellar music and film career that finised with her tragic death in a plane crash. Fans of "Baby Girl" will find this part refreshing, with its focus forward Aaliyah's life and her desire to achieve her dream of becoming a star and in what way she made that dream a reality.

The part reflects the optimism that Aaliyah asserted in a MTV interview: "You should wake up each day and love what you do. And I honestly do, from the bottom of my heart to the measures of my soul."

Westside: The Coast-To-Coast Explosion of Hip skip by William Shaw, Cooper Square Pres February 2002 $1695 ISBN 0-815-41196-0

Putting his skills as a reporter and journalist to work, William Shaw chronicles the lives of seven young men in southward Central Los Angeles who aspire to become prosperous in the music industry. Their lives in the inner city are filled with violence and hardship, not for a like reason dissimilar to the street life portrayed according to rappers that have made "thug life" famous.

You Forgot About Dre: The Unauthorized Biography of Dr Dre and Eminem at Kelly Kenyatta, Amber Books, January 2001 $1095 ISBN 0-970-22249-1

Dr Dre and Eminem are pair very recognizable names in the hip-hop community, and Kelly Kenyatta's biography gives fans of the couple entertainers insight into their climb up the hip-hop ladder.

Dre's music foundations go back to his days as a writer and farmer for the rapper Easy E and it was this relationship that l to the creation of the clump N.W.A.--Niggaz With Attitude. The cluster earned a reputation for its gangsta rap, hardcore lyrics and the polemics surrounding the single "Fuck tha Police."

Later, Dr Dre became a partner in the infamous Death tumult Records. At Death Row, Dre produc several hit albums including Doggystyle, Snoop Dogg's first attempt album.

But after legal annoys with the record label, Dre departed Death tumult and started his own label, Aftermath Records. individual of Aftermath's best-selling artists, Eminem, first attempted his album, The Slim Shady LP which sold millions.

Suge Knight: The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Death squabble Records by Jake Brown, Colossus works March 2002 $21.95, ISBN 0-970-22247-5

The name Suge Knight is infamous in the world of hip frisk about As head of Death tumult Records, Knight created a "family" of rappers, including Dr Dre Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. Jake Brown's profile of Death commotion examines how Suge Knight, between the sides of his relationship with rappers and others in the music industry, changed the American music business.

Knight's early years growing up in observes Angeles--specifically, Compton--and how that influenced his part as head of Death rank records are also explored. Suge's reputation for strong-arm business tactics and for what reason that approach was used to bribe and manipulate are also documented. For those interested in the music industry, the volume offers insight into the business-side and a bit of hip-hop history.

Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of turbid Waters by Robert Gordon, Little, Brown and Company, May 2002 $2595 ISBN 0-316-32849-9

protracted before the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and L Zeppelin, there was dirty Waters. The inventor of electric dispiriteds Waters has influenced generations of protection and roll musicians, a neat impressive career for someone who came public of the cotton fields. In this definitive biography, music fans learn all there is to know about this loyal rock and roll legend.

Take Care of Your Music Business by the agency of John P. Kellogg, PJ's Publishing, 2000 $2995 ISBN 0-967-58730-1

The music industry is more than creating a hit record. There is a destiny of work that goes onward behind-the-scenes. New York lawyer John P Kellogg provides vital information forward the ins and outs of the music business. The guide presents helpful information about key players in the music business, including artists and songwriters, farmers lawyers and accountants.

Otis!: The Otis Redding Story according to Scott Freeman, St. Martin's Pres December 2001 $2395 ISBN 0-312-26217-5