Scars of the Soul Are Why Kids Wear Bandages When They Don't Have Bruises

SCARS of the Soul is a powerful and thought-provoking account of coming-of-age in the Bronx alongside the birth and evolution of hip-hop culture.

Miles Marshall Lewis, a former editor of Vibe and XXL, offers a confessional and stylistic account (in the Joan Didion tradition) that transports readers from the Boogie Down to the Champs Ilysies.

Through generous stocked with revelations about black transatlantic culture and romance, Lewis deftly captures the political ambitions of Russell Simmons, the Black Spades gang foundation of Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation, and a keynoted debate on the materialistic, violent direction of hip-hop culture.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and multifaceted history of hip-hop and its impact on contemporary society.