Recommendations
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By John Cordero
In the late 90’s, the music scene in Miami was at the infancy of becoming the multi-million dollar cultural and artistic force that it is today. Musicians like Outkast, DJ Khaled and countless others stalked Miami’s claim as the newest Mecca for Hip Hop heads…
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By Luther Campbell
The raw and powerful true story of how one man invented Southern Hip-Hop, saved the First Amendment, and became a role model for his disenfranchised Miami neighborhood—living proof that one person can make a difference in the world.
A rap artist, wealthy musical entrepreneur, high school coach, and involved, active citizen—Luther Campbell’s life is a reflection of modern America.
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By Trick Daddy with Peter Bailey
“A thug is someone who stands on his own. He lives by the decisions he makes and accepts the consequences. A thug is comfortable in his own skin. I wear mine like a glove.”
Trick Daddy was born a thug—just a stone’s throw from downtown Miami, yet a world away from its dazzling beauty and sparkling wealth. Where grinding poverty, deadly crime, and devastating racial tension taught kids to live by the ’hood rules. Remarkably, Trick came from nothing and made it big just when his chances had run out.
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By Rick Ross with Neil Martinez-Belkin
Rick Ross is a hip-hop icon and a towering figure in the business world, but his path to success was not always easy. Despite adversity and setbacks, Ross held tight to his vision and never settled for anything less than greatness. Now, for the first time, he shares his secrets to success, offering his own life as a road map to readers looking to build their own empire.
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By Rick Ross with Neil Martinez-Belkin
The highly anticipated memoir from hip-hop icon Rick Ross chronicles his coming of age amid Miami’s crack epidemic, his star-studded controversies and his unstoppable rise to fame.
Rick Ross is an indomitable presence in the music industry, but few people know his full story. Now, for the first time, Ross offers a vivid, dramatic and unexpectedly candid account of his early childhood, his tumultuous adolescence and his dramatic ascendancy in the world of hip-hop.
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By DJ Khaled with Mary H.K. Choi
From Snapchat sensation, business mogul, and recording artist DJ Khaled, the book They don’t want you to read reveals his major keys to success.
– Stay away from They – Don’t ever play yourself – Secure the bag – Respect the code – Glorify your success – Don’t deny the heat – Keep two rooms cooking at the same time – Win, win, win no matter what.
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By Roben Farzad
Drugs, disco, and debauchery: This is the wild true story of the Mutiny, the decadent hotel that embodied Miami’s cocaine-fueled heyday–and inspired the legendary film Scarface.
In the seventies, coke hit Miami like a hurricane, and no place attracted dealers and dopers like the Mutiny.
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By Nicholas Griffin
In the tradition of The Wire, the “utterly absorbing” (The New York Times) story of the cinematic transformation of Miami, one of America’s bustling cities—rife with a drug epidemic, a burgeoning refugee crisis, and police brutality—from journalist and award-winning author Nicholas Griffin.
Miami, Florida, famed for its blue skies and sandy beaches, is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, with nearly twenty-three million tourists visiting annually. But few people have any idea how this unofficial capital of Latin America came to be.
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By Joan Didion
Miami is not just a portrait of a city, but a masterly study of immigration and exile, passion, hypocrisy, and political violence, from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Year of Magical Thinking and Let Me Tell You What I Mean.
It is where Fidel Castro raised money to overthrow Batista and where two generations of Castro’s enemies have raised armies to overthrow him, so far without success.
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By James and Karla Murray
If Miami isn’t a city normally associated with graffiti, this vibrant and exquisitely photographed collection of works will make readers think again. Over two hundred images reflect Miami’s hugely diverse culture with their eye-popping colors, Art Deco flourishes, depictions of palm trees, beaches, marine life, and local iconic figures. Here, a surprising and dangerous underside to the area is also captured. Extensive coverage of abandoned buildings nicknamed Penits,A” de facto museums where entire crews practice their styles, and on-the-outs writers occasionally end up living, proves there is more to the city than South Beach’s glitz and glam.
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By H. Love
The verve of the South Florida graffiti art scene from the 1980s to present is captured in this landmark book. It offers unparalleled access to the most significant graffiti art works ever produced in Miami. Discover South Florida’s graffiti art history throughout its various stages, dating from its classic works of the 1980s to the present influence of graffiti art at the annual Art Basel Festival. Included in the 310 full-color images are works by V05, DFC Crew, 7 UP Crew, the Ink Heads, and many more.