Even if you don’t have a deep-rooted relationship with hip-hop, you’ve probably realized that rappers have a symbiotic relationship with food. From the outset, rappers have given shout-outs to their favorite foods in songs (from the Sugarhill Gang’s landmark single “Rapper’s Delight” to LL Cool J talking about Froot Loops in “Milky Cereal”), or used cooking terms to describe their prowess in the studio (à la Raekwon the Chef).
If we haven’t noticed from Action Bronson’s show on VICE, Fuck That’s Delicious, rappers like to eat and often are enthusiastic to share their culinary talents. From that, there is a growing trend of cookbooks dedicated to the world of hip-hop. There was even talk for a very hot minute that Ja Rule (you may remember him from such hits as “What’s Love” featuring Ashanti) was writing a cookbook dedicated to the microwavable recipes he developed while in prison. No, really.
Here are my top seven cookbooks by some of hip-hops and R&B’s finest:
Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price by Coolio
Many people thought it was a joke at first: Coolio published a cookbook? But he did. Throughout the book, you’ll find recipes for what he calls “Ghetto Gourmet”.
#MEALTIME by 2 Chainz
Back in 2013, when 2 Chainz announced he would be releasing a digital cookbook with his album, B.O.A.T.S. II: ME Time, my reaction was “uh, obviously”. For those who have followed him on Instagram, 2 Chainz loves cooking on his tour bus and is an avid food-stagrammer. The instructions are rather hilarious and the recipes simple. In the words of 2 Chainz, “Embrace mistakes, and always cook within your comfort zone.”
Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook: It’s About Flavour by Roger Mooking and Alan Macgee
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