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Hip Hop Books: Hip Hop Biographies

Here we feature the best hip hop biographies on the market.

In a time when it seems that everyone wants to come out with a book, it's only the lives of a select few that truly deserve to be read and studied by upcoming emcees.

While this list is by no means complete yet (and may never be) we do intend to add new picks a long the way to keep you up some of the worlds greatest and/or inspiring individuals.

Whether you're looking for motivation, knowledge on how to hustle, or just a good true story, the hip hop biographies listed are some you should really take a look at.

Hip Hop Biographies

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley

Unlike his contemporary Martin Luther King Jr, a young Malcolm did not begin his early life on the path of God. Instead, by his mid twenties Malcolm (better known as "Detroit Red" at the time) was on drugs, drinking, gambling and very much into white women. The story of his metamorphosis is a spectacular read. You do not have to agree with the Nation of Islam to find inspiration in this story of empowerment by any means necessary.

Russel Simmons - Life and Def

Russel Simmons, born and raised on the streets of Queens, NY, is one of today's most influential figures in American business and culture. Before most of America had even heard of it, he saw in hip-hop the seeds of a global force that would change the way people talk, dress, and live--and he took that vision and turned it into a cultural revolution. Life and Def is more than a story of Simmons's rise--it's a blueprint for creating an industry and changing the world.