Publisher's Synopsis
"Taking its title from Danger Mouse's pioneering mash-up of Jay-Z's The Black Album and the Beatles' The White Album, Kevin Young's encyclopedic book combines essay, cultural criticism, and lyrical chorus to illustrate the African American tradition of lying--telling tales, fibbing, improvising, jazzing up, "storying." What emerges is a persuasive argument for the many ways that African American culture is American culture, and for the centrality of art--and artfulness--to our daily lives. Moving from gospel to soul, funk to freestyle, Young shifts through the shadows, the bootleg, the remix--all the grey areas. of our history, literature, and music."--P. [4] of cover.
