Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present

The work "Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present" by Wallace and Costello explores the intersection of rap music, race, and contemporary urban culture. Rap, originating in African American communities in New York City, is a musical style characterized by rhythmic and rhyming speech delivered over a musical accompaniment, often referred to as hip-hop. Hip-hop encompasses a broader cultural movement, including deejaying, graffiti art, and break dancing.1

The term "signifying" in African American English refers to a linguistic practice of indirectly expressing ideas, often through playful gibes and clever put-downs. This practice involves using wordplay and turns of phrase to alter the meaning of events, adding humor or criticism. The book likely examines how this tradition of signifying is present in rap music and how it relates to racial identity and expression within urban settings.2