Cuban Underground Hip Hop: Black Thoughts, Black Revolution, Black Modernity (Latin American and Caribbean Arts and Culture Publication Initiative, Mellon Foundation) Paperback – December 1, 2015

The focus of the book is a lot on the idea of black identity and how it differs from Cuba to the US. Hip-Hop is only used as a framework or excuse for the research. Plus, the author seems very fixated on pushing her queer agenda and focuses too much on the one Cuban lesbian rap group that is not at all representative of the whole scene. There's very little discussion about the music itself. The first mention of a song/album doesn't show up until you're 90+ pages in. It's definitely more sociology than musicology.

As a college professor, I have been using this text for the last couple of years in my Black Studies courses...It is well-written and engaging, and the author makes very effective use of oral interviews conducted amongst the Cuban Hip Hop community. The book gives a phenomenal overview of the history of Hip Hop in Cuba, showing how the music has become a global force, not only in terms of popular culture, but also through the growth of movements of resistance and revolution in the 21st century. At the same time, the author offers a sensitive and nuanced treatment of debates in contemporary Cuban society around race, gender, and sexuality. For all these reasons, I would recommend this book for use in Black Studies courses, but also for anyone interested in the history of Hip Hop as a global movement, and/or Cuban society in the 21st century.

This is an essential text for anyone looking to obtain a more in depth understanding of the complexities of Cuban hip hop's history as well as the current state of race and racism, as well as feminism, in Cuba. The interviews Professor Saunders has with women MCs of Cuban hip hop are a must-read.

This is the definitive history of the Cuban Hip Hop movement. it's the real deal, using over a decade of research and continual visits by Professor Saunders that reveals an honest look at the past, present and future and the debate spawned by art based political activism in Cuba (circa 1996-2006) If you love hip hop and it's history this is a must have!