There are two reasons I am sitting here writing the review today well three actually. Hip Hop, Disco, and cause Jasper asked me to, cause, well cause I read the book already. If this shit (shit meaning djing, clubs, dance music, etc) puts food on your table, you owe hip hop and you owe disco. We all know the stories of the South Bronx, Bam, Herc, Jay, Flash... old news to us. If I have to hear Caz bitch about getting ripped off for the lyrics to ÏRappers DelightÓ one more time I'm gonna shoot myself. But what about disco? Where is its story? Where are its heroes, whoÌs the Kool Herc of club land? The story told in this book is one I was already familiar with, searching the net for the past few years for interviews, charts, club histories, anything I could get my hands on to learn more about a music that was new to me. Now for the first time the complete history is told. If you read "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life," youÌll know the outline of this story. Beginning with David Mancuso's first loft party on February 14, 1970 and ending with The Garage picking up steam and getting ready to roll into the 80's, this book tells it all. The birth of mixing, the first cat to run clean doubles (not a hip hop dj), the sound systems, the first 12 inch singles, record pools and the beginning of club and street promotion. So many myths exposed and so many questions answered. The facts are here, and so are the characters. The show stealing Nicky Siano, David Mancuso, Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, Frank DeGrasso, Tee Scott, Steve Rubell and on and on. So many legends finally get their stories told. The contributors were very candid and it shows cause there's a definite lack of the grandstanding and posturing that is often found in hip hop history books. You really feel like you get the straight story here. Music was the force that drove it all and its story is told too, from ÏPoppa Was A Rolling StoneÓ to Cerrone, to the jazzier influences of the loft, this book lists many classic tracks. Like I said before, if this shit puts food or your table, if you want a pair of turntables, if you wanna open a club, shit if you even want to smell a 12inch single, you have to read this book. I get a little emotional about this shit, but shit man these guys are the reason we are all here today. This is a must own. ÒRoctakon

reviewed by mgmnt