Scan barcode
knod78's review
2.0
I will preface this review with I'm not a huge fan of Kendrick Lamar. Like the author, I grew up with rap and hip hop artists who influenced Kendrick. Like him, I also stopped really listening to that music and other genres, because they were tired and their lyrics mostly shit. I just never came back. I entered this giveway for two reasons: my cousin is a huge fan and I really was fascinated by the first rapper to ever get a Pullitzer Prize award. It was amazing.
Even though the summary book talks of this, this book is not that at all. Don't expect it. I was disappointed in this book for that reason. In fact, the album that won him the award was not discussed in detail like MAAD City. The layout and content was all over the place. I didn't really get the point of this book. Hood Politics which I thought was an interesting chapter was put in the very beginning and then repeated again for Chapter 2. I'm not sure why. There was no consistency and some of the pages I couldn't read due to faded text or gray text on a gray / black background. It was also one of the few times I felt the author put too much of himself into this story. At one point, he went on a tangent about east coast vs west coast and then he decided he liked west coast on a road trip to Atlanta. It went on longer than that though.
I did learn a lot of great music history and I did learn more about Kendrick Lamar. Just not what I wanted. I had some nostalgia and got out some old playlists to listen to some music of my youth. I also picked up a few new artists who I added to the list. I'm sure if you are a big fan (like my cousin), you might like this book, but the inconsistency of the text and page and content turned me off to recommend this book wholeheartedly.
Even though the summary book talks of this, this book is not that at all. Don't expect it. I was disappointed in this book for that reason. In fact, the album that won him the award was not discussed in detail like MAAD City. The layout and content was all over the place. I didn't really get the point of this book. Hood Politics which I thought was an interesting chapter was put in the very beginning and then repeated again for Chapter 2. I'm not sure why. There was no consistency and some of the pages I couldn't read due to faded text or gray text on a gray / black background. It was also one of the few times I felt the author put too much of himself into this story. At one point, he went on a tangent about east coast vs west coast and then he decided he liked west coast on a road trip to Atlanta. It went on longer than that though.
I did learn a lot of great music history and I did learn more about Kendrick Lamar. Just not what I wanted. I had some nostalgia and got out some old playlists to listen to some music of my youth. I also picked up a few new artists who I added to the list. I'm sure if you are a big fan (like my cousin), you might like this book, but the inconsistency of the text and page and content turned me off to recommend this book wholeheartedly.
ahomelibrary's review
3.0
Book Review — Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar (2021 @stmartinspress)
Spotify Wrapped is just around the corner. It’s 100% one of my favorite annual wrap-up features. I already have a feeling that @kendricklamar will be in my top 20 artists, but not super sure just yet.
This book is not really a biography of @kendricklamar, but more significantly a critical analysis of hip-hop and its surrounding culture. Of course, as one of the most celebrated rappers and songwriters of the 2000s, Kendrick Lamar plays a significant role in the industry.
This book talks a lot about the political nature and social commentary found within Lamar’s music. Did you know that he has won a Pulitzer for his work? He’s also won 13 Grammy Awards among other accolades. His work has been celebrated as paying homage to various genres such as jazz, funk, and spoken word. This book explores the music, the culture, related artists, and the context against which this music is made (politics, social/economic factors, race, masculinity, violence, etc).
I received an ARC, but I’m sure the final copy is just as visually appealing if not more. As you can see, it’s not a very thick novel, but it’s about 250 pages including some full page illustrations and graphics. It includes commentary and interviews from prominent media critics and other public figures.
I did find the writing to be a bit disjointed in the flow and at some points repetitive. However, I do not think this detracts from the subject matter if you’re a fan of Kendrick’s. I’m sure you’d find this analysis insightful or at the very least entertaining.
The author is Miles Marshall Lewis is a pop culture critic, essayist and fiction writer. Currently, it has 3.99 star average on Goodreads with about 100 ratings. It’s published now so you can get a finished copy if you like!
Spotify Wrapped is just around the corner. It’s 100% one of my favorite annual wrap-up features. I already have a feeling that @kendricklamar will be in my top 20 artists, but not super sure just yet.
This book is not really a biography of @kendricklamar, but more significantly a critical analysis of hip-hop and its surrounding culture. Of course, as one of the most celebrated rappers and songwriters of the 2000s, Kendrick Lamar plays a significant role in the industry.
This book talks a lot about the political nature and social commentary found within Lamar’s music. Did you know that he has won a Pulitzer for his work? He’s also won 13 Grammy Awards among other accolades. His work has been celebrated as paying homage to various genres such as jazz, funk, and spoken word. This book explores the music, the culture, related artists, and the context against which this music is made (politics, social/economic factors, race, masculinity, violence, etc).
I received an ARC, but I’m sure the final copy is just as visually appealing if not more. As you can see, it’s not a very thick novel, but it’s about 250 pages including some full page illustrations and graphics. It includes commentary and interviews from prominent media critics and other public figures.
I did find the writing to be a bit disjointed in the flow and at some points repetitive. However, I do not think this detracts from the subject matter if you’re a fan of Kendrick’s. I’m sure you’d find this analysis insightful or at the very least entertaining.
The author is Miles Marshall Lewis is a pop culture critic, essayist and fiction writer. Currently, it has 3.99 star average on Goodreads with about 100 ratings. It’s published now so you can get a finished copy if you like!
bmnayr's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Quick read, but perhaps unexpectedly dense. Perhaps it suffers a bit for it, as the shear span of topical exploration left the narrative feeling a little strung out.
tommyhousworth's review
3.0
This is more of a critical exploration of how Kendrick fits into the cultural landscape than a linear narrative of his musical history. If there's an organization to Mr. Lewis' approach, I didn't pick up on it, but even if the book were considered nothing more than a collection of essays, it's vastly engaging and enlightening when it comes to understanding Kendrick's place in the hip-hop hemisphere.
I would've enjoyed more about his seminal "To Pimp A Butterfly" and his Pulitzer and Grammy winning "DNA", but treating "Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City" as the focal point of the book does serve a purpose. One just has to be willing to go along for the ride here.
Mr. Lewis writes this book from his perspective, injecting himself into the narrative frequently. Again, not a detriment to the book, just stating it here in case that isn't your cup of tea as a reader of artistic analyses. It's a pretty popular approach (see Rob Sheffield).
Not quite what I was expecting, but still an entertaining book and a good introduction to (or continuation in appreciation of) Kendrick's phenomenal rise and reign.
I would've enjoyed more about his seminal "To Pimp A Butterfly" and his Pulitzer and Grammy winning "DNA", but treating "Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City" as the focal point of the book does serve a purpose. One just has to be willing to go along for the ride here.
Mr. Lewis writes this book from his perspective, injecting himself into the narrative frequently. Again, not a detriment to the book, just stating it here in case that isn't your cup of tea as a reader of artistic analyses. It's a pretty popular approach (see Rob Sheffield).
Not quite what I was expecting, but still an entertaining book and a good introduction to (or continuation in appreciation of) Kendrick's phenomenal rise and reign.
huycantread's review
3.0
The author contextualizes Kendrick’s influence as it leads to his Pulitzer Prize for DAMN. which covers the “Power” promised in the title. However, he rarely dives into Kendrick’s “Poetry” with a deep dive into longer sections of lyrics or musical choices. The chapters weren’t very cohesive where some tangents went on way too long like the Drake section and guest quotes were more interesting than the author’s own contribution - if they had fit the chapter at all. The bar for was set pretty high for love letters to hip hop by Hanif’s Go Ahead in the Rain, and this one does not meet it. Also, maybe I’m spoiled by Dissect podcast.
sodrewrites's review
4.0
Reading "Promise That You Will Sing About Me" by Miles Marshall Lewis is an experience, I tell you. Not only does Lewis give critical, well-researched analysis of Kendrick's body of work, he gives a glimpse into the life of Kendrick by way of his environment, musical influences, and the time period that shaped him. Musical ethnography of one of my favorite rappers is a treat in the way that it feels as though you are front + center of a hip-hop seminar and this curriculum covers Kendrick. There is no stone left unturned as Miles discusses Kendrick Lamar the artist: from his unique style and flow, on down to the competitive energy that tethers Kendrick to the likes of rapper Drake.
The author masterfully weaves his own personal experiences into the mix-- where he was and what he was doing when something specific happened in the country. And what Kendrick might have also been experiencing, using his age, environment, and lyrics for reference. In reading, I was blown away by how well-researched everything was. However, there were times when I felt the author led me down a rabbit hole of information I had a hard time crawling out of!
Any true student of hip hop will appreciate this read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC and St. Martin's Press for the physical ARC of "Promise You Will Sing About Me" in exchange for an honest review.
The author masterfully weaves his own personal experiences into the mix-- where he was and what he was doing when something specific happened in the country. And what Kendrick might have also been experiencing, using his age, environment, and lyrics for reference. In reading, I was blown away by how well-researched everything was. However, there were times when I felt the author led me down a rabbit hole of information I had a hard time crawling out of!
Any true student of hip hop will appreciate this read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC and St. Martin's Press for the physical ARC of "Promise You Will Sing About Me" in exchange for an honest review.
fionak's review
3.0
This book is specifically targeted at Kendrick Lamar fans and I, as a general aficionado of hip-hop history and culture, didn't get much out of it. The author inserts himself and his experiences into the book far too often for my taste and spends the rest of the time dissecting lyrics and interpreting supposed influences. Usually, I'm all for books that are secretly love letters but this feels more like a test of pre-existing knowledge on said rapper than a reason to fall in love. Artwork is kinda cool though.
I was sent a free copy of this book for review by the publisher.
I was sent a free copy of this book for review by the publisher.
cascadienne's review
3.0
As another reviewer said, this book veers between Lewis’s musical memoir and actual critical study of Lamar’s work. While it provided some good context for how Lamar’s music follows a parallel path of development, it was also distracting at times.
I picked it up to fulfill the hip-hop square on my summer book bingo list - and to learn more about what led to Lamar’s being awarded a Pulitzer Prize. While I had to do a lot of side reading (and listening) to follow some of the discussions in the book, I appreciate the opportunity to discover quite a few new artists and take a closer look at American hip-hop from this angle.
I picked it up to fulfill the hip-hop square on my summer book bingo list - and to learn more about what led to Lamar’s being awarded a Pulitzer Prize. While I had to do a lot of side reading (and listening) to follow some of the discussions in the book, I appreciate the opportunity to discover quite a few new artists and take a closer look at American hip-hop from this angle.