Parental Discretion Is Advised

Experience the stunning rise, fall, and legacy of N.W.A. and how they put their stamp on pop culture, black culture, and hip-hop music forever in this “incredibly vivid look at one of music’s most iconic groups” (Associated Press). In 1986, a group was formed that would establish the foundation of gangsta rap and push the genre forward, electrifying fans with their visceral and profane lyrics that glorified the dark ways of street life and brazenly challenged the police system. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella caused a seismic shift in hip-hop when they decided to form N.W.A in 1986. With their hard-core image, bombastic sound, and lyrics that were equal parts poetic, lascivious, conscious, and downright in-your-face, N.W.A spoke the truth about life on the streets of Compton, California—then a hotbed of poverty, drugs, gangs, and unemployment. Going beyond the story portrayed in the 2015 blockbuster movie Straight Outta Compton, through firsthand interviews, extensive research, and top-notch storytelling, Los Angeles Times music reporter Gerrick Kennedy transports you back in time and offers a front-row seat to N.W.A’s early days and the drama and controversy that followed the incendiary group as they rose to become multiplatinum artists. Kennedy leaves nothing off the table in his pursuit of the full story behind the group’s most pivotal moments, such as Ice Cube’s decision to go solo after their debut studio album became a smash hit; their battle with the FBI over inflammatory lyrics; incidents of physical assault; Dr. Dre’s departure from the group to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight; their impact on the 1992 L.A. riots; Eazy-E’s battle with AIDS; and much more. A bold, riveting, “non-stop, can’t-put-it-down ride” (Library Journal), Parental Discretion Is Advised unveils the true and astonishing history of one of the most transcendent and controversial musical groups of the 1980s and 1990s.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Music Your Parents Never Wanted You To Hear Believe it or not, music censorship in America did not begin with Tipper Gore's horrified reaction to her daughter's Prince album. The vilification of popular music by government and individuals has been going on for decades. Now, for the first time, Parental Advisory offers a thorough and complete chronicle of the music that has been challenged or suppressed -- by the people or the government -- in the United States. From Dean Martin's "Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am" to Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar; from freedom fighters such as Frank Zappa and in-your-face rappers such a N.W.A. to crusaders such as Tipper Gore, this intelligent and entertaining book shows how censorship has crossed sexual, class, and ethnic lines, and how many see it as a de facto form of racism. With nearly one hundred fascinating photographs of musicians, record burning, and controversial cover art; illuminating sidebars; and a decade-by-decade timeline of important moments in censorship history, Parental Advisory is by turns frightening and hilarious -- but always revealing.

In the tradition of her acclaimed mother, Ann Rule, author of The Stranger Beside Me, bestselling author Leslie Rule exposes the trail of a sadistic sociopath, identity thief, and killer . . . It was a bleak November in 2012 when Cari Farver, thirty-seven, vanished from Omaha, Nebraska. Texts sent indicated that the hardworking mother had quit her job, abandoned her son, and cut ties with everyone. Cari’s boyfriend, Dave Kroupa, accepted the breakup at face value. Her mother, Nancy Raney, however, had doubts. “I need to hear your voice,” Nancy begged. When the texter refused to speak, Nancy reported Cari missing. While no one saw or spoke to Cari, more than 12,000 sinister emails and texts were sent in her name over the next years. Police believed Dave and his girlfriend, Shanna “Liz” Golyar, when they reported that the missing woman was cyberstalking them. The tormentor was eerily aware of Dave’s every move, knew when Liz visited and threatened the couple. It never occurred to Dave that Cari was a victim—that the real stalker had killed before, and was planning to kill again. Leslie Rule tracks the heart-pounding path to long-awaited justice—from a twisted past to the deadly deception and the high-tech forensics that condemned the killer to prison. “Rule's first true crime book hits the mark.” —Katherine Ramsland, author of Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader the BTK Killer “A deft, fascinating true crime story of obsession.” —Library Journal (Starred Review) With a New Update by the Author Includes Reading Group Guide

In our digitally connected world, very few personal details have been left to the imagination. Children are growing up in the middle of an online war where information is collected and sold by countless organizations and where mega data breaches have left behind the threat of identity theft to last a lifetime. The internet offers extraordinary access to knowledge, people, and convenience but with that comes a dark side due to our oversharing ways and inability to use technology safely. If you have children who use social media, own a smartphone or tablet, or play video games online, this book is for you. In this eye opening view into our digital vulnerabilities, the author will walk you through a variety of methods used to uncover privacy weak spots and provide the necessary solutions throughout the entire process. Learn why there is no such thing as insignificant data when it comes to your privacy, find out what companies really know about you and what you can do about it, navigate the web anonymously, and so much more. Important data breaches and privacy laws will be discussed along the way. Cybercrime is a lucrative business for those involved. Don't allow your family to be a profitable investment. Privacy isn't dead, it's only been resting. Time to wake up.

In a world where religion is traditionally free from ridicule, out comes a book that clearly steps over the line and smashes the protective veil that surrounds all of the lies, myths, and fairy tales. McGaffer wastes no time in hammering religion with logic, crude humor, and blatant disrespect. Does God Get Diarrhea demonstrates the extreme absurdity of Christianity by tearing apart the Bible's asinine claims, critiquing the miracles of Christ, and exposing God as a hateful, bloodthirsty, mass murderer. Not for the faint of heart, this book definitely doesn't beat around the burning bush when it comes to tolerating barbaric ideals and primitive creation theories. Does God Get Diarrhea delivers what many non-believers have been too fearful to say for thousands of years with a huge twist of robust humor. The title itself is enough to raise the eyebrows of even the most liberal minded individuals and is guaranteed to offend almost everyone. Laugh your way through this book as you discover the gruesome reality of religion, the serious damage it has caused to our society, and the grim fate of a superstitious planet. Warning: This book contains graphic content, foul language, and reason. All of which can be hazardous to your health. "Disgusting...an intolerant and insensitive rant unsuitable for anyone." - Reverend J.A. David, Pentecostal Minister "Pure filth and toilet humor. McGaffer has a complete lack of respect for religion." - Joseph F., Christian Author and Pastor "McGaffer will be first in line to have his head sliced off on Judgment Day, and I can't think of anyone more deserving." - Mark L., Christian Extremist "Horribly offensive...this book should be banned from shelves." - Mary P., Sunday School Teacher

Secretly dreaming of sporting metal-rap 'ho or masta' pimp fashions? Can't turn the music up loud enough? Angry for no apparent reason? Constantly feel the need to break something? Or would you do it all for the nookie? If you've just answered yes to all these questions you're worthy of the label "mook," a term that has its roots in hip-hop and has evolved into its own popular and provocative form of music. From urban skater-kids to suburban mid-Western teens this genre of music has transcended all social and economic levels to become the "it" music for a post-grunge generation. A cutting edge category that is ferocious, in your face, and brutally honest, mockdom is becoming the sound of the century. This book documents the fusion of metal, rock, and hip-hop stomping the airwaves and making teen pop-queens cry. Find out how the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy laid the foundation and why the media made instant stars out of today's well-known acts such as Eminem, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Shootyz Groove, 311, Orange 9mm, Rage Against the Machine, Korn, and others. Pimps, trailer trash, and attitude problems--love them or hate them these are the new crossover pop-stars; see them "fully exposed" in this gritty and intensely illustrated celebration on the family tree of metal-rap.

Named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR... SO FAR by The New Yorker Named a BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH by The Washington Post A candid exploration of the genius, shame, and celebrity of Whitney Houston a decade after her passing On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found submerged in the bathtub of her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. In the decade since, the world has mourned her death amid new revelations about her relationship to her Blackness, her sexuality, and her addictions. Didn’t We Almost Have It All is author Gerrick Kennedy’s exploration of the duality of Whitney’s life as both a woman in the spotlight and someone who often had to hide who she was. This is the story of Whitney’s life, her whole life, told with both grace and honesty. Long before that fateful day in 2012, Whitney split the world wide open with her voice. Hers was a once-in-a-generation talent forged in Newark, NJ, and blessed with the grace of the church and the wisdom of a long lineage of famous gospel singers. She redefined “The Star-Spangled Banner.” She became a box-office powerhouse, a queen of the pop charts, and an international superstar. But all the while, she was forced to rein in who she was amid constant accusations that her music wasn’t Black enough, original enough, honest enough. Kennedy deftly peels back the layers of Whitney’s complex story to get to the truth at the core of what drove her, what inspired her, and what haunted her. He pulls the narrative apart into the key elements that informed her life—growing up in the famed Drinkard family; the two romantic relationships that shaped the entirety of her adult life, with Robyn Crawford and Bobby Brown; her fraught relationship to her own Blackness and the ways in which she was judged by the Black community; her drug and alcohol addiction; and, finally, the shame that she carried in her heart, which informed every facet of her life. Drawing on hundreds of sources, Kennedy takes readers back to a world in which someone like Whitney simply could not be, and explains in excruciating detail the ways in which her fame did not and could not protect her. In the time since her passing, the world and the way we view celebrity have changed dramatically. A sweeping look at Whitney’s life, Didn’t We Almost Have It All contextualizes her struggles against the backdrop of tabloid culture, audience consumption, mental health stigmas, and racial divisions in America. It explores exactly how and why we lost a beloved icon far too soon.