Questlove’s New Book ‘Hip-Hop Is History’ Coming June 2024

Questlove's book, dedicated to 50 years of hip-hop, has a release date set for June 2024.

Questlove’s book, dedicated to 50 years of hip-hop, has a release date set for June 2024.

The multifaceted hip-hop figure announced that his new book, Hip-Hop Is History, will debut on June 11. Released via Questlove’s own AUWA Books and co-written with Ben Greenman, the book serves as The Roots co-founder’s perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

Diving into “the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop,” the book will also highlight Questlove’s (real name Ahmir Thompson) musical family history growing up as a Black kid in Philadelphia.

“It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time,” the press release states, via Pitchfork.

“And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.”

Through personal stories of buying vinyl records and staying up late to hear songs on the radio before creating music of his own, the six-time Grammy Award–winning musician explores the artistic and societal influences that gave rise to and molded the hip-hop genre.

“I’ve been with hip-hop since the start, and it has been with me just as long,” Questlove told People last month. “It has been my friend and my companion, my coach and my counselor, a source of information and inspiration.”

Questlove reunited with Greenman for the book following his Music Is History release in 2021. The New York Times bestselling author also penned Creative Quest and middle-grade novel The Rhythm of Time, written with S.A. Cosby.

His latest release sees the Academy Award-winning filmmaker trace the cultural and creative origins of hip-hop with highlights of influential hits and the largely forgotten artists behind them.

“Hip-Hop Is History is my tour through the first 50 years of the genre,” Questlove said. “And I couldn’t be more excited for all of you to read it.”