
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.
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Writings

Before Miles Davis Went Electric, He Went AmbientThe Liner Notes

Pharoah Sanders’s Grand ReturnThe Nation

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

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

Reinventing the Sound of ProtestThe Nation

‘Was It a Lost Psych-Funk Classic?’ It’s Khruangbin, Right NowThe New York Times

52 Years Ago, Thelonious Monk Played a High School. Now Everyone Can Hear It.The New York Times

Re-enter the Wu-Tang: The iconic rap crew on legacy and looking aheadEntertainment Weekly

