Brian Coleman - Check The Technique available now.

[KidK]

Are we talking about the same book?

Maybe you're thinking of this one:

 

[KidK]

primary sources.

Sample page:

The track by tracks are pretty much the book's only redeeming qualities.

I'm talking about the 12 other pages on Too $hort that Coleman himself writes.

 

[Hotsauce84]

I'm talking about the 12 4.75 other pages on Too $hort that Coleman himself writes.

Not trying to be petty, just sayin'...

I'm sure dude wants people other than the small percentage of folks who already know the history of damn near every one of these artists to buy and understand this as well. Gotta give the people SOME kind of background.

 

[KidK]

I'm talking about the 12 4.75 other pages on Too $hort that Coleman himself writes.

It's right about now that I wish my copy wasn't stored away in a box for moving.

I'm sure dude wants people other than the small percentage of folks who already know the history of damn near every one of these artists to buy and understand this as well. Gotta give the people SOME kind of background.

This book was very much written for rap nerds -- that's the reason so many strutters cosign it (or at least aren't incredibly bored by it). It's not marketed or even immediately appealing to a crowd that wouldn't at least be vaguely familiar with most of the titles discussed. Unfortunately, for the most part the author resorts to tired cliches to describe the music, and I'm not trying to read that.

b/w

We're alowed to hate on music here, but not on books?

 

[faux_rillz]

Unfortunately, for the most part the author resorts to tired cliches to describe the music, and I'm not trying to read that.

I really don't see why you find the comments with which Coleman framed his interviews so objectionable, though we must all concede that for eye-gouging use of tired cliche they pale in comparison to the likes of the below meditation on Field Mob:

I'm a fan -- at first glance it's your standard hi-hat-obsessed hook-driven atl-throwback rap, but these guys rep the swagger and sense of humor of a "My Name Is" era Eminem with a rich-boy esque taffy-mouth drawl. Which, I point out for all the jaded record store clerks that peruse these boards, is a good thing in my book.

 

[KidK]

Is the difference between a quick summary on a message board and a book that people pay to read really that hard to spot? Come now.

 

[mannybolone]

Yeah, not to beat a dead horse here but the transcripts are the main point. If you don't like Coleman's framing...well, don't read them.

The books aren't meant to be read in linear fashion so jumping from transcript to transcript isn't going to mar the experience.

Saying - not liking Coleman's writing style or opinions is one thing but shitting on the book as a whole is classic "baby with the bathwater" short-sightedness.

 

[Junior]

Got this through the post this week - been playing the game of listening to the music on my headphones while reading the chapters after finding that every album I started reading about made me want to run home and revisit it.

Had never read Rakim Told Me so am just soaking it all in at the moment.

 

[day]

Yeah, not to beat a dead horse here but the transcripts are the main point. If you don't like Coleman's framing...well, don't read them.

The books aren't meant to be read in linear fashion so jumping from transcript to transcript isn't going to mar the experience.

Saying - not liking Coleman's writing style or opinions is one thing but shitting on the book as a whole is classic "baby with the bathwater" short-sightedness.

Exactly. I can understand his point to some degree (if Dave Tompkins wrote a book like this it would take some serious willpower to sit through

), but the bottom line is, this book is an account direct from the artists with very little interjection from Coleman.

I bought the first book directly from him and I gotta say the same thing as Controller 7, dude was incredibly nice and took the time to talk about the book as well.

and I can't wait to get the new one.

 

[mannybolone]

This book was very much written for rap nerds -- that's the reason so many strutters cosign it (or at least aren't incredibly bored by it). It's not marketed or even immediately appealing to a crowd that wouldn't at least be vaguely familiar with most of the titles discussed.

That is PRECISELY who the book is written for. It's not meant for general audiences who want an "introduction" to hip hop. It's strictly for nerds and based on how well "Rakim Told Me" did, that audience is cleaerly out there. Morever, that audience isn't caught up on issues or prose or diction.

Bottomline: if you don't like the book or the writing - fine. But it is very appealing to a wide segment of hip hop fanatics.

 

[DJ_Enki]

-Slick Rick talking about all the songs that he hated and thought were filler on Great Adventures.

That shit was kinda crazy to me. Rick was pretty down on a good portion of Great Adventures and was constantly saying, "Oh, that song was stupid...that song was pure filler...I only did that one because we needed another song on the album."

If you are a rap nerd, you will like this book. A lot.

 

[FunkyFlatulent]

I got this a few weeks ago so every one can breath easy. Anyways IT'S GREAT! I want ten more just like it.

The only thing I hate about the book is it's incredibly depressing. I want EVERY demo/unreleased track mentioned and I don't think I'll get any. Can I get some music insider help here? I need these songs. sighhhhhh....I guess they'll continue to collect dust in a box somewhere for another twenty years.

 

[matamatic]

I got it from dusty groove for 11.99. Great book.

 

[Controller_7]

being upset about Coleman's setups is kind of like being mad about the plate your delicious meal was served on. The quotes and anecdotes are still the meat of the story, no matter how he sets them up.

You can totally skip the intro and only read the track by track accounts. The majority of the intros in Check the Technique are built on quotes anyways.