The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop

The Big Payback is a comprehensive and engrossing history of hip-hop, detailing the secret histories of early successes, marketing breakthroughs, and the rise of artist/entrepreneurs like Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

With 300 industry giants providing their stories, this book offers a compelling and never-before-seen view into the victories, defeats, corporate clashes, and street battles along the 40-year road to hip-hop's dominance.

From the first $15 made by a "rapping DJ" in 1970s New York to the multi-million-dollar sales of Phat Farm and Roc-a-Wear clothing companies, The Big Payback tally's the list of who lost and who won.

With Pulitzer-level reporting and colorful photographs, this book is a must-read for fans of the music industry and anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes story of hip-hop's rise to dominance.