PaRappa the Rapper (Boss Fight Books)

In the mid-90s, a Japanese prog-rock star, an American visual artist, and their small team made a colorful, cartoon hip-hop rhythm game that looked, played, and kicked and punched like nothing else on the market!

Initially dismissed by some as a bizarre curiosity, PaRappa the Rapper became a runaway hit with players, eventually selling millions of copies, spawning two sequels, and effectively birthing the modern music-rhythm genre. For author Mike Sholars, PaRappa left a profound, permanent mark.

Featuring exclusive, brand-new interviews with game designer Masaya Matsuura, iconic visual artist Rodney Greenblat, and original voice cast member Saundra Williams (the voice of Chop Chop Master Onion), alongside a medley of sharp game critics and music experts, Sholars' book is equal parts recap, remix, and recollection.

Sholars masterfully uses his dual love of hip-hop and gaming to celebrate the title's unprecedented mechanics, paper-thin art style, surreal humor, and uplifting themes. By pairing energetic video game history with intimate personal memoir, he explains how a game about a rapping dog helped him feel seen when he needed it the most. Funny, informative, and deeply sincere, this is a heartfelt reminder of exactly why we all gotta believe!