The Rap Year Book takes readers on a journey that begins in 1979, a year widely regarded as the moment when rap was recognized as a genre within the music landscape, and extends to the present day. Shea Serrano skillfully pays tribute to the most significant songs of each year. Serrano also explores the key moments that surround the history and culture of rap music, from the backgrounds of the artists to issues of race and safety, as well as the rise of hip-hop and the struggles faced by its main players, both personally and professionally.