A terrifically written and researched dive not just into “the three kings” of the business side of hip hop, but on the history of the art itself. A must read for music fans.

The title of this book is a tad misleading, don't get me wrong the primary focus of this book does foray into the business acumens of the hiphop moguls Diddy, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre but there is so much more covered. Starting with the foreword by Fab 5 Freddy, it covers a good amount of the history of hip-hop culture. From art, to the originators, the political mindsets, the controversies through the decades of not just the moguls but everyone that touched their lives in any way be it influence or directly. Much of the information covered is what I already knew, but then again I engross myself in this subject matter. Even for the advanced historian in hip-hop though you can learn a few things and is worthwhile reading for motivation, historical reference, or just pure entertainment. The personal experiences between the author and the Kings are the things that piqued my interest if you are curious about the foundations and aspirations of some of the most influential people in the game this book may be for you.

Wasn't sure what to expect but O'Malley really surprised me with his writing style that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

I grew up in NYC and there was a distinct hip-hop culture around but I never really got into the scene. I heard all the big names, I knew some of the songs, but reading about the history and business aspects made me appreciate these artists and the industry so much more.

Outstanding book on the three hip hop artists that took their smarts and rap game and propelled it to major heights. We read about Jay-Z, who hustled drugs, became a hip hop icon and started Rocawear, restaurants, sneakers,etc. We read about P Diddy, who began his rise at Uptown Records, and used his business sense to start his own record label ,Bad Boy. Let us not forget his clothing line, perfurme, cologne, housewares and of course becoming the pitchman for Ciroc Vodka. Last but not least, we have Dr. Dre. This man started out with West Coast Hardcore rap, NWA, and left there to become aligned with Death Row Records. After leaving Death Row,he became a multi-millionaire with his headphones, Beats by Dre. This book also has references to past rappers who to me, helped shape and form hip hop. This is an outstanding read on 3 men who rose above their humble beginnings to become kings. This book is titled correctly. Outstanding!!!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

As far as music styles go, hip hop is a fairly newcomer. During its short history, it’s seen a huge boom and turned to big business. No hip hop artists have harnessed the business more than Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Diddy. 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise is a look at how each have one have gone from streets to CEO.

Hip hop acts come and go, but three men have found a way to turn the business to big bucks and remain relevant. 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise is a history of these artists and business men and the moves they’ve made to make them multi-millionaires and even billionaires.

The paths each king took to achieve success differs, but each is impressive. Headphones, booze, clothing, and more, they’ve diversified outside just music and used their celebrity to push their ventures to new heights and success no one suspected.

Through interviews with hip hops founding members, 3 Kings gives an informative look at how Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and Diddy started from the bottom now they here.

Part hip hop history, part business book, 3 Kings is an interesting read. Grab your copy of 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise on Amazon now, and learn about the big business hip hop legends have built.