Contradiction; the yin and the yang; the simultaneous existence of two competing realities; and the larger than life persona that depicts populist realism are at the core of Nass debut album; Illmatic. Yet Nass identity -as an inner-city youth; a child of hip-hop; and a Black American - predicts those philosophical quandaries as much as it does its brazen ambition. Partly because of that recklessly broad scope; the artistic impact of Illmatic was massive. The record finds its place in the greatest transition in hip hop up to that point; the spot where the streets and the charts collided.
#3645753 in eBooks 2014-07-16 2014-07-16File Name: B00LVRSSCS
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A song ends; but the melody lingers onBy Pat BrowningTHE TUMBLEWEED MURDERS is set in the ugliest part of the San Joaquin Valley; and one of the best characters talks like Granny in "The Beverly Hillbillies;" but I kept going back to it anyway. Something about it just wouldnt let go. Maybe its the music."And every night down in Aromas/ Sitting on the porch and talking low;/ Trying to get the Bakersfield station/ on the radio."Lyrics by the late Rebecca Rothenberg are words on paper; but the melody is easy to imagine if you like California country music. Rothenbergs protagonist; Claire Sharples; is a transplanted Easterner who feels the pull of that music.Rothenberg writes: "Claire; who had learned this stuff entirely against her will; said; I thought it was a Merle Haggard song. A Merle Haggard song that had once stopped her dead in her tracks in Harvard Square and then sent her back across a continent. To stay." In this fourth and final series entry; Claire settles into a love/hate relationship with the Valley.Claire is a plant pathologist working in the field for the University of California. On her way to a peach orchard where the fruit is afflicted with brown rot; she meets Jewell; a reclusive; long-retired country singer once known as The Cherokee Rose. The chance meeting with Jewell is followed by discovery of a skull near the peach orchard.Claire already has a full plate. Shes getting over a failed love affair. Her mother has died. Her stuffy brother is coming to visit. Her romance with the married Ramon is heating up. But the skull; a faded photograph; and the fate of a country singer reel her in.Curiosity leads Claire into a labyrinth of lies and corruption; as an old murder brought to light leads to new murders. She narrowly escapes drowning; and almost meets her Waterloo at the hands of a runty tycoon named Tidwell; who disposes of enemies by tossing them into a hay baler.Taffy Cannon completed this novel after Rothenbergs death; and the result is smooth as silk. I hate to see Claire Sharples go. She was good company. Still; as one of Rothenbergs own songs says:"Now my life has led me on/ And left so many roads behind;/ But I can still recall them all/ So clearly in my mind."The only thing missing here was a CD to go with the book. Love those songs!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A fitting finale to a great seriesBy CustomerThe last of the Claire Sharples series is the best. Interesting story line. Good setting in the San Joaquin Valley. Plenty of menacing and endearing supporting characters. I am unhappy that there will be nor more in the Botanical Mystery series; but Rebecca Rothenberg went out on a high note.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Another enjoyable book by this authorBy Andrea AufieriThe first of her books I ever read was Bulrush Murders. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had to get the rest of her works.
