American Rap Scenes is a unique contribution to the field of Hip Hop studies. This book examines the external conditions that fueled the development of Hip Hop in different areas of America. Pope has provided an insight in the dynamic genre of Hip Hop that includes sociological and political factors impact on the genre. This is a must-have book for all courses on Hip Hop studies and a comprehensive understanding of the growth of the culture in the United States!

Lakeyta M. Bonnette-Bailey, Professor of Africana Studies, Georgia State University, USA

Since its inception in the Bronx, rap music has inextricably been tied to locality. In American Rap Scenes, Lavar Pope has ambitiously provided a study of 25 rap scenes which drill down and nuance previous regionally focused studies of 'West Coast' or 'East Coast,' for example. If this wasn't enough, he provides a cross-disciplinary approach which acknowledges factors such as migration, ethnicity, and technology. The book provides a needed multi-faceted lens which will add to models for studies of music scenes in the future.

Justin A. Williams, Professor of Music, University of Bristol, UK

Lavar Pope's American Rap Scenes is a rigorous and readable journey through the various landscapes that produce hip hop culture. It is a meaningful read for scholars of music, cultural studies, and geography as well as hip hop fans.

Langston Collin Wilkins, Assistant Professor of Folklore and African American Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA