Hodder Studio picks up Serrano's hip-hop compendium

Hodder Studio has picked up a “compendium of hip-hop greatness” by three-time New York Times bestselling author and cultural commentator Shea Serrano.

Editor Izzy Everington bought UK rights from Twelve Books and will publish Hip-Hop (And Other Things) simultaneously with the US on 5th October 2021.

The publisher said: “This book about hip-hop – and some other things too – takes conversation about music to the next level. Alongside hot takes, old favourites, and nostalgia-ridden reminiscences are unique illustrations from Arturo Torres, graphs about Young Jeezy’s interpersonal relationships, flowcharts about 50 Cent and whether or not it’s your birthday, and much, much more.”

Serrano is the author of 2019 New York Times number one Movies (And Other Things) and its predecessor Basketball (And Other Things), which was selected by Barack Obama as one of his favourite reads of the year. He is also a staff writer for US sports and pop culture website The Ringer.

Everington said: “I’ve been wanting to publish Shea for years. He’s a major talent with a unique and brilliant writing style, and this is the perfect book – or gift – for anybody with an ounce of interest in not just hip-hop, but popular culture itself. Buckle up, this is going to be one hell of a ride!”

Serrano added: “This book is a celebration of rap, one of the three or four things I love the most in this world. There are very few things that can compete with that jolt of excitement you get when a song reaches out of a speaker and grabs a hold of you.”