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Word is Born

By: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Narrated by: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
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Publisher's summary

Grammy winning family hip-hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s rhyme-writing workshop will get aspiring rhymers ready for the limelight. Skidoo breaks down song writing and performing basics into easy-to-follow examples alongside short chapters featuring cultures that have songs at their core, including West African griots, Australian indigenous songline culture, and Viking rhyme battling.

This unique combination of how-to and history showcases musicians and singers performing traditional styles, then flips them into contemporary hip-hop songs celebrating their cultures. With an opening chapter and original music by hip-hop founding father Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, Word is Born is full of techniques and tales that will help you sing your own song.

Ages 10+

©2021 Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.
Arts & Entertainment Young Adult Inspiring
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Interview: 'Word is Born' Proves that Music is in Our DNA

Word is Born
'The greatest awarenesses we can get are the things that we already know.'
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  • Word is Born
  • 'The greatest awarenesses we can get are the things that we already know.'

About the Creator and Performer

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is an MC and producer best known for creating wildly eccentric family hip hop. He has released six full length albums, as well as two collaboration albums with the Asheville Symphony. In 2014, he was nominated for the Grammy for "Best Children's Recording", and in 2017, he won it. Along with a rotating cast including his wife, daughter, and many talented friends, he's rocked shows from Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits to the Smithsonian, and performed headlining gigs at India's Buddy Daddy Festival, Australia's Woodford Folk Festival, and the Calgary International Children's Festival. Along the way, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has developed a series of workshops to share his love of rhyme writing. He has taught kids and adults from the United States to Australia how to craft their own stories into rhymes and then perform them with skill, confidence and style. His first collection of curriculum will be released in the 2021 school year.

Grandmaster Caz
Additional Credits

About Grandmaster Caz

Grandmaster Caz is an originator and pioneer of hip hop culture, known as the first to perform as both an MC and a DJ. Hailing from the Bronx and rocking since the late 70s as a member of the legendary Cold Crush Brothers and as a solo act, Caz has influenced many generations of rhyme writers and DJs. He performs worldwide and has released four full length studio albums along with countless singles and collaborations, from being on the original soundtrack to the 1983 graffiti film Wild Style to guest starring on Macklemore’s Downtown song and video in 2016. He is a board member of The Kennedy Center's Hip-Hop Council and was invited as an esteemed participant in The Cornell University Library Conference on Hip-Hop. In 1999, Grandmaster Caz was inducted into the Technics DJ Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. A street plaque bearing his name is now on permanent display on the Grand Concourse, the most famous thoroughfare in the Bronx.

Musical Credits for Word is Born

"The Beat Is Born" (music bed with narration, Chapter 2) : Lee Allen, drums; Derrick Johnson, trombone; Jamar Woods, piano; Alex Bradley, trumpet; Jason Slaughter, tuba; Jacob Rodriguez, saxophone
"Storyville to Sedgwick"
Lee Allen, drums; Derrick Johnson, trombone; Jamar Woods, piano; Alex Bradley, trumpet; Jason Slaughter, sousaphone; and Jacob Rodriguez, saxophone
Beat by George Sulmers and Paul DiFiglia
Lyrics and vocals by Grandmaster Caz and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"Griots" (music bed with narration, Chapter 3)
Seydou Dante, dun dun and bells; Moussa Camara, djembe; and Salif Bamakora, kora
"Neo Griot"
Salif Bamakora, koraa and Weedie Brahima, djembe orchestra
Beat by Munir Zakee
Lyrics and vocals by Awa Sangho, Munir Zakee, and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"The Battle Is Born" (music bed with narration, Chapter 4)
All music by Rúnfell
"Ragnarokked"
All music by Rúnfell
Beat by G-Pek
Lyrics and vocals by E-Turn and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"Songlines" (music bed with narration, Chapter 5)
Mark Atkins, didgeridoo; Si Mullumby, didgeridoo; and Ben Walsh, percussion
"Echos of the Past"
Mark Atkins, didgeridoo; Si Mullumby, didgeridoo; Ben Walsh, percussion; vand Fred Leone, boomerangs
Beat by Spends Quality, Philo Reitzel, DJ Epik & Ben Walsh
Lyrics and vocals by Fred Leone and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"The Ceremony Is Born" (music bed with narration, Chapter 6)
"Concerto for Flute, Violin & Harpsichord in A minor, BWV 1044" composed by Johann Sebastian Bach; Vance Reese, harpsichord; Tiffany Powell, flute; Kristin Miller, violin; and Franklin Keel, cello
"Master of the Ceremony"
Vance Reese, harpsichord; Tiffany Powell, flute; Kristin Miller, violin; and Franklin Keel, cello
Beat by Philo Reitzel
Lyrics and vocals by Grandmaster Caz, Spaceman Jones, and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"Deep Roots" (music bed at the beginning and with the acknowledgements)
Beat by George Sulmers & Paul DiFiglia

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What listeners say about Word is Born

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Profile Image for Robin

Excellent history and good narration

I knew so little of hip hop and now it's ubiquitous. This is a very insightful history of how it got started and who is involved and why it plays such an important part in musical history. I'm disappointed that Audible didn't promote this more!

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Profile Image for Angela

Wow! I learned so much!

This is such a cool book! It literally teaches you how to rap (or rhyme) but also digs into the history of hip hop and musical cultures all over the world. There is music in the historical parts and it's so cool. I think my favorite part was hearing about Australian song lines. But Vikings are pretty rad too. Plus, this narrator/author has the best voice ever. Audible, please hire him to narrate other things. Good for older kids AND adults.

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Profile Image for Heather Gimbel

An entertaining masterclass in Hip Hop technique, culture and history

Whether you’re looking to kick off a career as an MC or just want a better appreciation for Hip Hop music and culture, Agent 23 breaks it down without dumbing it down. With additional first hand history and insight provided by Grandmaster Caz, this book provides a unique view into all of the skills required to write and perform along with a perspective on the culture developed through his unique experiences traveling the globe. From West Africa to Scandinavia to First Nation Australia to New Orleans and Brooklyn, the history and influences that Agent 23 reveals are fascinating and amazingly entertaining.

This is not your average audiobook, as Agent 23 takes advantage of the audio format to mix story with song and truly serve justice to his topic. I’ll be looking on Apple Music next for the soundtrack!

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Profile Image for Jeremy Salyers

A phenomenal honoring of the culture of hip hop

This beautiful piece of work is incredibly rich in context and substance with the abundance of knowledge and experience learned from a true lyricist. Whether you want to learn about how to rhyme or where the culture came from, this book contains all that and then some!

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Educational, thoughtful and entertaining

I’m not an aspiring MC, but I still got a whole lot from listening to this book. It gives you a lot to reflect on, has tons of cultural and historical nuggets of knowledge, and features some amazing original music.

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