African American Music

One of jazz’s leading critics gives us an invigorating, richly detailed portrait of the artists and events that have shaped the music of our time. Grounded in authority and brimming with style, Playing Changes is the first book to take the measure of this exhilarating moment: it is a...

The music industry is cutthroat in more ways than one. Elle Jamison, Savior Morrison, and Matese Reyes found this out the hard way when old loves, hidden enemies, and secrets turned their industry dreams and personal lives into the ultimate nightmare. Now that all hell has broken loose these three will have to fight hard to save their musical careers, relationships, and even their lives. As the drama surrounding them hits a mind blowing crescendo, find out if their lives end in the perfect melody or falls flat. Get ready for the final installment of the Urban Romance, Love in the Lyrics 2: ...

Marcus King is Majesty—the ghost producer behind the hottest tracks dominating the charts. From the pulsing VIP sections of Club Elysium to the bass-heavy silence of his secret recording booths, he crafts platinum hits for stars who never sweat the process. But every empire built on sand eventually shifts. When a quarter-million-dollar promise exposes a dangerous loyalty, Marcus finds himself caught between the polished facade of success and the crumbling foundation beneath it. He's fighting to keep his name—and his life—out of the headlines. As a high-powered executive watches from a...

A Southern small-town romance about the visibility of Black women’s voices in country music, perfect for fans of Beyonce's Cowboy Carter and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. "The best romance I've read all year." —The New York Times Every Thursday night, former country music heartthrob Luke...

Throughout history, African American musicians and artist have made a profound impact in music, they have given sound and voice through a wide variety of musical genres. Universally they have expressed emotions that is shared through faith, passion, joy, comfort, and injustice through songs that speaks directly to the heart and spirit. The incredible men and woman featured in this book are responsible for creating some of the most iconic songs ever recorded in the history of music.

Named a Must-Read Book by W Magazine, Time, and more “Everybody’s Fly could comfortably sit alongside books by Richard Price, Lucy Sante, Tom Wolfe, or Ed McBain, chronicling New York from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s with both vivid, journalistic descriptions and the outsized flair from...

In Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton's America—tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained 'colonial boy' traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat.

***An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!*** From international drag superstar and pop culture icon RuPaul, comes his most revealing and personal work to date--a deeply intimate memoir of discovery, found family, and self-acceptance. The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the...

“Narrator Kristolyn Lloyd expertly uses accents, emotional cues, and vocal effects in this vivid audiobook set in 1999.” — Kirkus (Earphones Award Winner) A fast-paced, juicy debut novel that peeks behind the curtain at the cutthroat world of hip-hop music and the glamorous magazine scene...

Elle Jamison is engaged to popular R&B singer GT Wells. The pair fell in love and vowed to be there for each other no matter what. So, when an opportunity arose, Elle put her dreams of becoming a singer on hold, while GT pursued his dreams. She thought they were well on their way to starting their lives together until the fame went to his head. What started off as a fairy tale is now a nightmare filled with paternity tests, groupies, and disrespect. She wants to break free but feels she has no way out. Will she change her mind before her wedding date approaches? Music mogul Savior Morrison ...

The late Grammy-winning founder of the legendary pop/R&B/soul/funk/disco group tells his story and charts the rise of his legendary band in this sincere memoir that captures the heart and soul of an artist whose groundbreaking sound continues to influence music today. With a foreword by David...

The authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a “touching, empathetic portrait” (The New York Times) of his life and powerful legacy, including mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and more Artist, poet, actor, revolutionary, legend Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and...

For half a century, Michael Jackson’s music has been an indelible part of our cultural consciousness. Landmark albums such as Off the Wall and Thriller shattered records, broke racial barriers, amassed awards, and set a new standard for popular music. While his songs continue to be played in...

Louis Armstrong, also known as “Satchmo” and “Pops”, became an American jazz legend in the 1920s. His voice and skill with instruments helped him become a popular musician in a time where America was racially divided. Watch as this skilled musician learns to play, buys his first instrument, and becomes one of the best music makers of the era.

Austin joins Dallas and Houston in Akashic's deep dive into the Lone Star State's darkest dimensions. Featuring brand-new stories by: Gabino Iglesias, Ace Atkins, Amanda Moore, Jeff Abbott, Scott Montgomery, Richard Z. Santos, Alexandra Burt, Lee Thomas, Miriam Kuznets, Jacob Grovey, Chaitali Sen, Molly Odintz, Amy Gentry, and Andrew Hilbert.

He built the nightlife. She became the music. Now Atlanta will decide who wins. Five years ago, Malachi “Kai” Rhodes walked away from the only woman who ever made him feel exposed. He chose power over love — or at least that’s what Nyla James believes. Now she’s no longer the girl with a dream and a microphone. She’s a rising R&B star on the verge of global success… and performing at the most exclusive club in Atlanta. The one Kai owns. Their reunion isn’t sweet. It’s heated. Unfinished. Dangerous. Because Kai isn’t just a club mogul — he’s a man with a past powerful...

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum–selling artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Fat Joe pulls back the curtain on his larger-than-life persona in this gritty, intimate memoir about growing up in the South Bronx and finding his voice through music. “An adrenaline rush . . . buckle up and...

Karrine Steffans continues to share the much-sought-after details of her star-studded life in this juicy tell-all—​and dishes on the celebrity men that helped her get where she needed to be. This titillating expose chronicles the personal and professional adventures of this tabloid-laden...

A gripping page-turner from the celebrated author of book club favorite The Violin Conspiracy: Music professor Bern Hendricks discovers a shocking secret about the most famous American composer of all time—his music may have been stolen from a Black Jazz Age prodigy named Josephine Reed...

In Every Little Step, Brown will for the first time tell the full story of his life and set the record straight, particularly about his relationship with Whitney Houston. Bobby Brown has been one of the most compelling American artists of the past thirty years, a magnetic and talented figure who...