YOUR PRIMO HIP-HOP AT 50 PRIMER

Half a century of hip-hop has left an indelible mark on the cultural zeitgeist, and as the genre turns 50, HITS sat down with key players to get their insight on sone of the moments that altered the course of music history.

Whether it’s a recounting of Russell Simmons' hearing Public Enemy for the first time in Rick Rubin’s dorm room in "The Rise of Revolutionary Rap" or Miles Marshall Lewis’ astute look at the explosion of hip-hop in "A Puff of the ’90s"—here’s your roundup of essential reading.

"Grandmaster Flash: Droppin' Science"

"Fuck tha Police"

"How the Native Tongues Altered the Landscape of Hip-Hop"

"Spotify's Carl Cherry Gets Editorial On Your Ass"

"De La Soul: All You Need Is Love"

"The Mixtape as Art Form: A Conversation with DJ Drama"

"Questlove Is a Many Splendored Thing"

"Masters of the Mic"

"Round Trip (For Dave)"