
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 next book, High and Rising, a cultural biography of rap trio De La Soul, was published by HarperCollins in November 2024.

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.
Select
Writings

Chad Clark is an Architect in Rock and Experimental MusicThe Liner Notes

Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Duke EllingtonThe New York Times

Songs in the Key of TimeThe Liner Notes

Revisiting Flying Lotus' Mystical Dreamscape, A Decade LaterThe Liner Notes

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

Stop Erasing Black Women From Free Jazz HistoryThe Liner Notes

The Undervalued Brilliance of Indian Thriller MusicThe Liner Notes

How The Roots Helped Me Embrace JazzThe Liner Notes

