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Marcus J Moore
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Marcus J. Moore

High and Rising

Written by the esteemed author, curator, and music journalist Marcus J. Moore, this is the first biography of De La Soul. It unpacks the significance of the influential rap group, the birth of hip-hop culture, and the evolution of alternative rap. Marcus also weaves in a deeply personal coming-of-age story about his journey through life with De La as a backdrop.

About
Marcus

Marcus J. Moore is an esteemed music journalist, editor, event curator, professor, and author of two acclaimed books: The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America (2020) and High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul (2024), now on sale. The latter is a blend of cultural biography, memoir, and critical analysis.

The book is out via Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. His latest book, High and Rising, a cultural biography of rap trio De La Soul, was published by HarperCollins in November 2024.

Curated
Musicby Marcus J Moore

Where Future Unfolds

Where Future Unfolds
Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble

High and Rising

A biography of the hip-hop trio De La Soul, charting their ascension, their boundary-pushing experimentation, and their lasting cultural influence.

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Writings

Pharoah Sanders Found His Voice in New York City

Pharoah Sanders Found His Voice in New York City
Vulture

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Alice Coltrane

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Alice Coltrane
The New York Times

Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Duke Ellington

Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Duke Ellington
The New York Times

Revisiting the Pyramids’ ‘Avant-Garde African Jazz,’ Four Decades Later

Revisiting the Pyramids’ ‘Avant-Garde African Jazz,’ Four Decades Later
The New York Times

Stop Erasing Black Women From Free Jazz History

Stop Erasing Black Women From Free Jazz History
The Liner Notes

Pharoah Sanders’s Grand Return

Pharoah Sanders’s Grand Return
The Nation

Nubya Garcia, Tapping Into the Past to Make Jazz for a New Generation

Nubya Garcia, Tapping Into the Past to Make Jazz for a New Generation
The New York Times

The Evolution of Black Music, and a Man’s Soul, in One Show

The Evolution of Black Music, and a Man’s Soul, in One Show
The New York Times

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