Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves & Demons of Marvin Gaye

This post is one in a series of reviews commemorating Black History Month

Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves & Demons of Marvin Gaye, by Michael Eric Dyson (2004)

Dyson has written a fascinating analysis of the life and career of the late Marvin Gaye, a book that will appeal even to readers who don't know Gaye's music all that well. That having been said, this is a weighty tome, which touches on the religious, cultural and social influences of the black community and how they shaped the singer.

For example, in examining the effect of childhood abuse on Gaye, Dyson traces the problem of domestic violence in the black family to slavery. While this is an interesting discussion, it sways quite a bit from the book's star. Some readers will find these diversions tedious.

Because Gaye's relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy is discussed at length, anyone who has studied the studio and its music will find something of interest here. References to the black church and family will ensure this book's place in programs of African-American study. Finally, the last chapter is in large part about present-day soul star R. Kelly. Dyson's discussion of how both men merged concepts of spirituality and sexuality within their music is interesting. In short, this book is a real find for a musicologist or sociologist, but it's not a biography "for the rest of us."

Originally reviewed 1/20/05

Why White Kids Love Hip Hop

Why White Kids Love Hip Hop: Wangstas, Wiggers, Wannabes, and the New Reality of Race in America, by Bakari Kitwana (2005)

Kitwana, a former editor of The Source magazine attempts to answer the question of why so many white kids seem to gravitate toward hip hop music. Included in this short book are some interesting points, but the author generally seems to raise more questions than he answers.

The strength of the book is the provocative statements borne from Kitwana’s belief in hip hop’s strong influence on politics and the broader society. The author’s conclusions about both raise eyebrows and they start at the very beginning when the author asserts“the hip-hop generation is the first one to grow up without experiencing de facto segregation.” Such statements will go farther in sparking a spirited debate about the politics of race and class in America than they will in answering the title question. So it is with much of Kitwana’s book.

Like other books that examine the role of popular music in society, Why White Kids seems to overemphasize the impact that hip hop has in challenging the racial politics of the past and in transforming society. At the other end of the spectrum, some critics charge that hip hop has done little or nothing to change society, or that it isn't a movement at all. Both views are often taken to extremes, in the view of this reviewer.

Kitwana’s work provides a lot of food for thought, and while it doesn’t go as far toward answering the question as many would like, it is sparking debate among fans and critics of hip hop culture. The buzz about this book is indicative of the fact that this is a timely topic about which there is a great deal of interest. Readers of this book should expect a broader discussion of rap music within the framework of American culture, rather than a definitive answer to the title question.

Video Blog: Unscarred, by R.M. Hamilton

Yesterday, the Books @ LP crew took to Red Mountain and Vulcan Park to highlight R.M. Hamilton's debut Unscarred, which we recently reviewed here.

The Park is one of the premier destinations in Birmingham, affording a breathtaking view of Southside and the downtown to the north and the over-the-mountain community of Homewood to the South. You'll see downtown Birmingham in the below clip, as well as the Vulcan himself, standing guard over the city.

The music used here is an exciting new sound from Orka Veer, who graciously allowed us to use his piece for our blog. His track, "Bionic" serves as a nice backdrop to the scenes of the city.

Related links

• Read more about R.M. Hamilton - author's website | author's MySpace profile
• Listen to the music of Orka Veer - artist's MySpace profile

We've been quiet in August, but we promise more reviews in the month of September.