# The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop - Board Book

by **Carole Boston Weatherford** (Author), **Frank Morrison** (Illustrator)

**"Carole Boston Weatherford, once again, delivers a resounding testament and reminder, that hip-hop is a flavorful slice of a larger cultural cake. And to be hip-hop-to truly be it-we must remember that we are also funk, jazz, soul, folktale, and poetry. We must remember that . . . we are who we are!" -_Jason Reynolds, New York Times best-selling author_**  
  
**"Starting with its attention-getting cover, this picture book does an excellent job of capturing the essence of rap . . . This tribute to hip hop culture will appeal to a wide audience, and practically demands multiple readings." ―_Booklist, STARRED REVIEW_**  
  
**"No way around it, this book is supa-dupa fly, with lush illustrations anchored in signature hip-hop iconography for the future of the global hip-hop nation." ―_Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW_**  
  
**"With short, rhyming lines and dramatic portraits of performers, the creative team behind _How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace_ offers a dynamic introduction to hip-hop. . . . This artful introduction to one of the most influential cultural movements of the 20th century pulses with the energy and rhythm of its subject." ―_Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW_**

**Explore the roots of rap in this stunning, rhyming, triple-timing book, now available as a board book!**

_A generation voicing_  
_stories, hopes, and fears_  
_founds a hip-hop nation._  
_Say holler if you hear._

The roots of rap and the history of hip-hop have origins that precede DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. Kids will learn about how it evolved from folktales, spirituals, and poetry to the showmanship of James Brown, to the culture of graffiti art and break dancing that created the art form and gave birth to the musical artists we know today. Written in lyrical rhythm by award-winning author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford and complete with flowing, vibrant illustrations by Frank Morrison, this book beautifully illustrates how hip-hop is a language spoken the whole world 'round.

### Author Biography

**Carole Boston Weatherford** has written many award-winning books for children, including Coretta Scott King winner _R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul_; Caldecott Honor winners _Freedom in Congo Square_; _Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer_; and _Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom_, as well as Golden Kite Award winners _Dear Mr. Rosenwald_; _Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library;_ and _The Roots of Rap_. She is currently a professor of English at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, where she created a hip-hop course. Find out more about her at cbweatherford.com.

**Frank Morrison** was born in Massachusetts and moved to New Jersey at an early age. He grew up during the early days of rap music, graffiti, and break dancing. A well-known graffiti artist and also an accomplished break-dancer, he was part of the Sugar Hill Gang's dance entourage. It was during one of the group's European tours that he got a chance to visit the Louvre in Paris and was so intrigued by all the magnificent art that he decided to return to his roots and become an artist. His talent and hard work paid off with over 20 illustrated children's books, including the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award winner, _Jazzy Miz Mozetta_; Coretta Scott King winner _R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul_; and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book, _Little Melba and Her Big Trombone._

**Number of Pages:** 26

**Dimensions:** 0.6 x 6.9 x 6.9 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** February 08, 2022

**Award:** Golden Kite (2020)

## Details

- **Price:** 8.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 8.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop - Board Book

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> Updated: 2026-07-23