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Braggin' Writes: Rappers With Books - Rap is performance, certainly, but it's also a literary art form. Some artists have notebooks upon notebooks of written rhymes, while others have libraries stored away in their heads. Some, like Common, Jay Z, T.I., Pharrell, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne, are even taking their words and publishing memoirs and self-help manuals, which memorialize not only their individual legacy but also that of this culture.Read on to check out some of these noteworthy releases, already on shelves or on the way.(Photos from Left: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images, Ryan Pierse/Getty Images, David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Behind the Wall - Young Buck just announced that he'll soon be dropping his new memoir called Life Behind the Wall, where he discusses the 18 months he spent locked up in a federal prison in Mississippi for weapons charges. The book will take a look at how Buck faced adversity and turned his life around and the struggles it took for him to get back on top.(Photo: David Becker/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

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Diary of a Madman: The Geto Boys, Life, Death, and the Roots of Southern Rap - The anointed King of the South just dropped his autobiography with Benjamin Meadows-Ingram this week detailing his life as a ghetto boy fighting depression and coming up in the music business. In his memoirs, Face also talks about trying to commit suicide on several occasions as he bares his soul.  (Photo: Dey Street Books)

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One Day It'll All Make Sense - In this memoir named after Common's third album, the Chicago MC/actor discusses family, his early life on Chi's Southside and more. (Photo: Courtesy Atria Books Publishing)

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Power & Beauty - T.I. added author to his résumé with this fictional novel about love, the streets and coming of age, released in October 2011 shortly after his release from prison. (Photo: William Morrow)

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Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man - After selling more than 30 million records worldwide, fathering three children, and serving more than two years in prison, Queens rapper Ja Rule had plenty of reflecting to do in his new memoir, Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man. The recently released book also includes firsthand insight of one of hip hop's most heated beefs, his with 50 Cent.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Bun B's Jumbo Coloring and Rap Activity Book - Not only is the Houston rapper Bun B a university-level teacher, but he's also author of a coloring book for the kids. Developed with veteran music writer Shea Serrano, Bun B's Jumbo Coloring and Rap Activity Book features color-ins and other activities featuring your child's favorite rappers, from Kendrick Lamar to Tyga.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Heineken)

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Places & Spaces I’ve Been - Pharrell Williams's book Places & Spaces I’ve Been (shouts to Donald Byrd), was published in October 2012. For it, Skateboard P collaborated with designer Ambra Medda to create a hardcover, photographer's dream –– a definite coffee-table item.(Photo: Steven Henry/Getty Images)

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Purpose: An Immigrant's Story: Wyclef Jean - With politics and music already checked off, Wyclef added a new skill to his résumé: writing books. The rapper/singer/producer released his first in September 2012. "My first book is called Purpose," he explained, "because that’s the first thing I did, right? I had to find my purpose. That's what a lot of us go through." (Photo: Terrence Jennings/ Picturegroup)

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Autobiographical Rapping Dude: The Rhyme Book - G. Dep, the former Bad Boy star who confessed to a cold-case murder in 2010, may be serving 15 years to life in prison, but he is spending his time wisely. Dep revealed plans to write an autobiography, Autobiographical Rapping Dude: The Rhyme Book, and the book's first chapter in 2012. The pages have not hit shelves yet, but considering his roller-coaster life — from crime to the music charts to drug abuse to his shocking confession — we know we'll be reading.(Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage)

Photo By Denise Truscello/WireImage

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M.I.A. - M.I.A. was super busy in 2012. Not only did the provocative British rapper flip the bird at the Super Bowl, but she also wrapped up an 192-page autobiography, which was published in October of that year. Publishing company Rizzoli described it as a an "autobiographical monograph in collages." (We don't know what that means either.)(Photo:  Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

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Everybody's Brother - Cee-Lo Green wrote a book about his favorite subject: himself. With the help of Rolling Stone editor David Wild, the Goodie Mob member-turned-The Voice coach published his memoir, Everybody's Brother, which takes readers on a journey into "the supernatural, the surreal and extraordinary." Sounds about right.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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The Early Tour Days of Machine Gun Kelly - Although the rap rookie's fairytale story is just beginning, Machine Gun Kelly wants to document every moment of it. Word is the Cleveland native is drawing up plans for The Early Tour Days of Machine Gun Kelly, which will surely be a collector's item if the Bad Boy signee blows up to be a legend one day.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Streetz Gon' Cry - While most rappers are taking the nonfiction route, former Death Row Records rapper Tray Deee is getting creative with his literary endeavors. Along with the help of fellow prisoner Anthony Barrow, Tray has written Streetz Gon' Cry, a fictional account of the King Crips' and the Vernon Boys' battle over the control of the cocaine trade in Los Angeles.  (Photo: Death Row Records)

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Gone Till November - Six books, seven books — or just one for now. Lil Wayne announced that he'll be releasing his first book, a memoir based on diary entries he wrote during his eight-month sentence for gun possession in New York.(Photo: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com)

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Decoded - Decoded consists of line-by-line dissections of notable Jay Z rhymes by the man himself, interspersed with relevant biographical info and poignant back-in-the-day memories –– a hip hop must read.(Photo: Courtesy of Spiegel & Grau)

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Golfwang by Odd Future - Hipster rap wunderkinds Odd Future published a book via Picturebox in 2011. Golfwang, named after the crew's photo-heavy Tumblr page, is filled with the group's own writing, design and photography, and documents their journey from L.A. sidewalks to worldwide tours. (Photo: Courtesy of Picturebox Inc.)

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The Tao of Wu - The RZA penned this deep look into the mental chambers of the Wu-Tang Clan. This tome is a patchwork of autobiographical tidbits, kung-fu movie quotes, chess tips, scripture and old Wu anecdotes.(Photo: Courtesy of Riverhead Hardcover)

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My Infamous Life - Prodigy and writer Laura Checkoway got together for this 2011 autobiography. The bloody blow-by-blow account of the Mobb Deep member's whirlwind life goes from the streets Queensbridge to world tours and UFO sightings.(Photo: Courtesy of Touchstone)

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The Way I Am - Named after one of Eminem's best, most personal songs, this book doesn't delve into all of the sordid details of Slim's life –– his relationship with Kim and his struggles with drug addiction are ignored –– but it does break down his creative process and gives firsthand warnings about the dangers of fame.(Photo: Courtesy of Plume)

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The 50th Law - In this left-field collabo, 50 Cent linked with business-writing expert Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, to lay out his strategies for getting rich –– without having to die trying.(Photo: Courtesy of Harper)

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Fight the Power: Rap, Race and Reality - Named after one of one of the group's most incendiary songs, this fiery treatise from the Public Enemy frontman, Spike Lee and Yusuf Jah is a mix of political analysis, personal tidbits and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from hip hop's golden era.(Photo: Courtesy of Delta)

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The World According to Pretty Toney - A satirical take on Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, this hilarious self-help book finds Ghostface Killah dishing out advice on sex, gambling, nutrition and more.(Photo: Courtesy of MTV Press)

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Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption from South Central to Hollywood - This telling memoir details Ice-T's roller coaster journey, from jewelry thief to soldier to rapper to rocker to actor.(Photo: Courtesy of One World/Ballantine)

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Flavor Flav: The Icon, The Memoir - Hype-man-turned-reality-star Flavor Flav tells all in this 2011 confessional. The dirt he dishes includes his struggles with addiction, his trips in and out of rehab and jail, his TV rebirth and tensions with Public Enemy.(Photo: Courtesy of Farrah Gray Publishing, Inc)

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The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument - For KRS-One, hip hop isn't just music –– it's a way of life, a religion. This 2009 book, formatted like the Bible, lays out the Teacha's philosophies on rap, spirituality and staying true to yourself.(Photo: Courtesy of powerHouse Books)

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LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing Your Mind, Body and Soul - This third release in the Queens rapper/actor's Platinum fitness book series contains all the workout regimens, nutrition tips and life advice you need to be healthy and happy like Uncle L. (Photo: Courtesy of Rodale Books)

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Thank You And You're Welcome - Kanye West dropped this 2009 book packed with random bits of Yeezy's personal philosophy, in all its uncensored glory. (Photo: Courtesy of Super Good LLC)

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The Rose That Grew From Concrete - Published three years after his death, this collection of poems that Tupac wrote in high school is a revealing look into the mind of a budding lyrical genius.(Photo: Courtesy of MTV Press)

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The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats - This 2008 memoir details the pioneering Bronx turntablist's rise and fall, revealing his conflicts with Sugar Hill Records and his heartbreaking struggles with cocaine addiction. Grandmaster Flash and writer David Ritz co-authored it.(Photo: Courtesy of Crown Archetype)