With the United Kingdom politically more divided than ever, author Justin A. Williams finds new hope in an often-neglected figure: the British rapper. Through themes of nationalism, history, subculture, politics, humor, and identity, Brithop offers insightful new perspectives from rappers based in Wales, Scotland, and England.
Justin A. Williams' BRITHOP is a literal tour de force,taking readers on a journey through twenty-first century UK rap and helping them hear how British emcees use beats and rhymes to make their voices heard. With a keen ear for accents, poetic allusions, and political commentary, Williams explores a wide range of artists through the lenses of not only race, gender, and ethnicity, but also class, region, and nationality. By highlighting the vibrancy
of Great Britain's multicultural popular music, BRITHOP uts two fingers up to Brexit-era nationalism and refutes narrow conceptions of citizenship and belonging. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding contemporary British society as well as hip-hop outside of the United States.
