Juvenile - back that azz up

For an industry that has spun countless rags-to-riches tales over the past four decades, it’s hardly surprising that the rapper-penned memoir overshadows all other entries in the hall of fame for hip-hop books.

Granted, this extensive library is filled with numerous classics that focus on everything but the artist—the majority of which document the genre as an art form (How to Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC) or the progression of hip-hop as a culture (Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation)—but none are quite as thrilling as the rap memoir.

Although you can learn a lot about an MC by listening to their records, autobiographies offer insights through a different lens: a long-form glimpse into the world of hip-hop seen through the eyes of its key players.

These books are equal parts entertaining and inspirational. At their best, they function as both celebrity tell-alls a