A portrait of race, meaning, and the search for self across centuries and continents. From hip-hop artist Jason Diakité comes a stunning account of growing up between worlds, riding a delicate cultural and racial divide. A Drop of Midnight is Jason’s remarkable memoir and an unflinching look at not only his own history, but that of generations affected by the trauma of the African diaspora, then and now. Jason draws on conversations with his parents, research, and personal experiences to paint a vivid picture of race, discrimination, family, and ambition. Read or listen for free with Prime. This is of course why we love a musician memoir; we get the most personal version of the story straight from the source. The last year alone has brought us memoirs by some true musical icons: there’s the Rocket Man himself Elton John; the incomparable musical genius that is Prince; the elusive chanteuse Mariah Carey (Lambily fam, where you at!?). We knew our Riot readers would have some excellent recommendations for us, so we asked you to share your musician memoirs. We now have plenty to add to our TBRs (not to mention our playlists). Without further ado, here are your favorite musician memoirs! Blues All Around Me by BB King Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen Celia: Mi Vida by Celia Cruz Chronicles by Bob Dylan Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton A Dream About Lightning Bugs by Ben Folds Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality by Chuck D, Yusuf Jah Girl In a Band by Kim Gordon The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx Hit So Hard by Patty Schemel Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein I’ll Never Write My Memoirs by Grace Jones Just Kids by Patty Smith Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday, William Dufty Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis Miss Rhythm by Ruth Brown Mo’ Meta Blues by Questlove My Own Devices by Dessa My Voice by Angie Martinez Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur The Spitboy Rule: Tales of a Xicana in a Female Punk Band by Michelle Cruz Gonzales Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello
