Triksta: Life and Death and New Orleans Rap

I purchased this book thinking that I would be treated to an inside view of the New Orleans rap scene that I've spent the past 8 years or so absorbing myself in. Unfortunately, while Cohn apparently did interact with many "rappers", most of them seemed to be just as hopeless and unsuccessful as he was at doing anything important in rap. He makes little mention of the important roots of New Orleans rap--L.O.G., UNLV, P.N.C, and does his damnedest to downplay and discredit anyone who has made money off of rap out of New Orleans (i.e. Cash Money and No Limit). I did, however, enjoy reading about the conspiracy theories surrounding Brian "Baby" Williams (such as hiring hit men to kill enemies, financing the lable with drug sales, and scheming to rip off his own rappers). To respond to the reviewer below me, it is true that this book makes a few too many factual errors for a non-fiction book. As the the below reviewer's comment that Cohn confused Eastover and English Turn, I do believe Brian Williams, or at least his brother, owns a house in English Turn. Mannie Fresh does for sure, so there is a possibility that either Baby himself owns another house there, or Cohn confused Baby with Slim or Mannie. Onto Cohn, though, I was EXTREMELY dismayed that this book does not contain ANY references, sources, or even credits in a designated section! Half of the reason I purchased this book was out of curiosity about how to gather information on this topic, and I hoped it would lead to other books, articles, or at least knowledgeable individuals who the author might have referenced outside of the text of the book itself. As for the cover, to which no further reference is made, there is little mention of Mardi Gras Indians except for a single group of them, and Cohn omits perhaps the most well-known gathering called "Mardi Gras under the Bridge" which takes place under a freeway on the intersection of Orleans & Claiborne avenues. There is at least one unforgivable blunder that I found. On page 19, Cohn erroneously states that there are eighteen wards in the "inner" city of New Orleans. In fact, the entire city only has 17 wards. I know this because this is something I have personally researched, and it's common knowledge for any voter and resident of the city (I am a life-long resident). Wikipedia has excellent information on the Wards of New Orleans, particularly the 9th Ward, for anyone who is interested. Speaking of the 9th Ward, Cohn states that it is commonly called "Psycho Ward". I have not been able to verify this, and I am a New Orleans East resident, which is part of the 9th Ward. "C.T.C", "the five-four", and "the mighty 9" are much more common nicknames to my knowledge, and he mentions none of these. He also repeatedly complains that Bourbon street is only for tourists (frat boys and conventioneers, her says), which is almost entirely a complaint that I hear tourists themselves make, and is really not true. It's a pathos of frequent visitors and

I was born and raised in uptown New Orleans and I started high school in the year when our own form of hip hop, Bounce, came into full swing with the release of "Triggerman". Needless to say, I was captured by the title of this book and skeptical when I read about the white, elderly, British author. I swallowed this book in one evening. It was amazing how this man captured New Orleans and hip hop! If more people had this level of understanding, we might be living in a Different America, and some of the things that have happened since Katrina AND ARE STILL HAPPENING, Y'ALL NEED TO KNOW, wouldn't be. Thank you, Triksta, true to form, your appearance is deceiving. This is a must read for those of us who can sometimes turn a blind eye to the invisible people amongst us and for those who want to know more about New Orleans or hip hop. Keep fighting for the return of the Real New Orleans (we all want a better one, but the People Have to come back). And keep your eyes on the Gulf Coast. This country is responsible for it's own people who are suffering through the worst catastrophe in our history. Ok, I'm off my soapbox.

I have never really cared very much either way for rap/hip-hop and its extensive musical family, plus my convention-linked visits to New Orleans always had been grim affairs, coloured by the usual treadmill around the Potemkin village-like tourist traps of the city. As a result, being given this book for Christmas instantly achieved high rank in my personal top ten of pointless presents. However, one quick perusal across the first page and I was hooked. The book involves the reader from the off and the author writes in a thoroughly heart-felt and engaging manner. The book chronicles the author's fascination for and obession with rap & hip-hop generally and New Orleans specifically, to a degree where the only logical progression was to involve and immerse himself on an exploratory journey both outwards into these two overlapping worlds as well as in inwards to confront and understand his own addictions. The author is well aware that he stands out like an altar boy at a Hell's Angels party, which only makes his lack of discomfort and natural enthusiasm all the more admirable, especially when you consider that he is doing this at an age where I, for one, would probably prefer to be tucked up in bed with a hot cup of cocoa. Where the book came into its own, at least for me, was its acute and painful observation of a slice of society that goes wholly unobserved and ignored, where life influences the music and, in a sadly ironic turn, music influences life. The author's attempt at least to chronicle and understand what is going on, both in a big picture kind of way, as well as on a direct and personal level, lifts his story above what would otherwise easily have been just another standard rock'n'roll chronicle. This book is a personal account and the author is critical where he needs to be, but he is never judgemental or condemnatory and the story is one of those rare ones that gives you the ability to see things a little bit different. My one criticism is that the book was a bit too short, but like a great party, you leave just at its peak and wanting for more. A highly enjoyable read, intelligent and observant, well worth your hard-earned. Thanks and take care.