The Big Payback

The History of the Business of Hip-Hop

By: Dan Charnas

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

Length: 27 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

An original journalist for The Source, Dan Charnas built a celebrated career in the rap industry. In The Big Payback, he chronicles the rise of the hip-hop culture and shows how it became so powerful in a matter of decades. Charnas also profiles many of the movers and shakers in this burgeoning cultural movement, offering unprecedented access to an industry that continues to shake the globe.

©2010 Dan Charnas (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Nuanced treatment of the impresarios behind signature sounds and recording empires, and brisk, dramatic vignettes, give this history of a leaderless revolution impressive momentum.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Great book buuutt..

Was a great book, and a really good performance, but it's like he specifically messes up certain peoples names... i mean its small things but big when listening.. overall great i formation..

Incredible from start to end

This book is incredible. I’m a Real Hip Hop Head. Grew up listening to it. I remember going to visit my family in Jersey as a kid. I’d stay up to listen to Mr Magic and Red Alert because I wanted to record the latest songs and bring them back up to Syracuse. This brought those memories back. What I loved most was learning more about the history, culture and business of Hip Hop. I highly recommend this book to whoever loves this music. I’m 49. And a Hip Hop Head 4 Life! 🙌🏾

Essential for every fan of Hip Hop music

As a person who grew up with Hip Hop music, I'm surprised there aren't more books of this quality on the subject. This book was a journey starting in my childhood and spanning my teens, twenties and early thirties. I am too young to remember the disco era, but I remember the first time I heard Rappers Delight and Planet Rock. I remember Run DMC, the Beasties Boys, The Fat Boys, Too $hort, and so on. It was so interesting to hear the behind the scenes stories of how all of those careers came to be. I would have liked more stories about West Coast artists, and artists that might not have been the huge commercial stars that the book focused on. One other conspicuous omission was the 2 Live Crew banned album story that I recall being huge at the time. I could have lived without the chapters about all the clothing lines, Sprite and Vitamin Water. I think that the book would be better if it were about the art of Hip Hop with a little business sprinkled in. I can't imagine why someone with more Interest in business than art would bother with this book. Also, the author could have been more critical of the downside of huge commercial success instead of painting such a perfectly rosy picture of the commercialization of Hip Hop. But even though this book is not perfect, anyone who grew up on Hip Hop will devour it, and be left wanting more. It's a pretty spectacular book, and I would love to read more from this author.

The Best book on Hip-Hop Culture and Industry Ever

If you could sum up The Big Payback in three words, what would they be?

Detailed, Insightful, Epic

What did you like best about this story?

The has views from all sides

What about Kevin R. Free’s performance did you like?

Award Winning

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, but every free minute it was played till the end.

Any additional comments?

If I were teaching a course on Hip-Hop History this would be mandatory reading.

5 Star Listen for Hip Hop fans

If you are curious about the business behind hip hop and the players behind the scenes that make the engine run, then you will love this book.

A truly exceptional listen.

What a trip! Dan Charnas's saga of the business of hip hop had me laughing, reminiscing and fascinated from the start. I grew up on this music and hearing there back stories of the music of my youth and adulthood was truly uplifting. I found myself sneaking extra listening time while washing the dishes and steaming the songs of the grandfathers and grandmothers of hip hop while working. 5 stars all around!

Very enjoyable and almost inspiring story

If you could sum up The Big Payback in three words, what would they be?

Culture, Entrepreneurship, and Hustle

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rick Rubin, Chris Lightly, too many to name

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many stories to choose from

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could listen to it all day

Any additional comments?

Great story and performance.

Really interesting story about Hip Hop's history.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of the topic. Hearing about the different players that helped create Hip Hop was nice because outside of bits and pieces from other sources, I didn't have an overview of how it came to be.

Later in the book, while the story is still good, it starts dealing with radio and the importance that it played and at this point my attention started to wain. It's still great history at this point but what I enjoyed most was the history of the people and the record labels and while the radio/magazine sections are important to the overall history, I just didn't care about these people enough. After a while of wanting the story to go back to the actual people making the music I had to remind myself that this book is not about the history of Hip Hop, it's about the history of the Business of Hip Hop. Big difference.

This is my first book by both the author and narrator and I would seek out books by either in the future.

The story behind Hiphop's ascent

If you could sum up The Big Payback in three words, what would they be?

This is the story behind Hiphop's ascent into mainstream America through the business side of music. From the nearly impossible major labels to the moguls we associate with Hiphop as much as the emcees, this tells it all. It is engrossing and really sheds light on how far a subculture of America had to go to become part of world culture.

What did you like best about this story?

The stories of small independent labels, radio personnel fighting to play rap, and the rocky relationships between all of the players like Russel Simmons and Sean Combs.

What about Kevin R. Free’s performance did you like?

Good delivery and passion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was enlightening to hear how some of my favorite artists and the music they created actually came to be. Stories about the early years were my favorite parts. The final chapter puts it all in perspective.

Any additional comments?

The performer does have some mistakes in pronunciation of some Hiphop aliases, but nothing I can't overlook.

Great back stories.

What made the experience of listening to The Big Payback the most enjoyable?

The narrator brings the hip-hop feel to the book. Rapping old hooks and recreating the quotes in an authentic accent.