Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin': The Authorised Story Of Public Enemy by Russell Myrie

This is a fairly standard biography that’s lifted above the norm by having a fascinating subject. Public Enemy are one of the greatest hip hop acts ever, and that’s because they (and Chuck D in particular) actually had something important to say. They thrived on rapping about political or public issues, and created huge controversy as a result. This is an authorised biography, which is usually a sign of an anodyne, cleaned up story. But Public Enemy have nothing to hide, and their collective contributions to the book almost always seem open and honest, down to (mercifully briefly) discussing Flavor Flav’s child support payments. The author occasionally overcooks his writing, like when he describes The Bronx as ‘the borough that mothered this rap shit.’ He’s usually more controlled and his contribution as a researcher outweighs any occasional lapses. It’s aimed at existing fans, but PE’s story is compelling enough to have some crossover appeal. [Ryan Agee]