10 Must-Read Music Memoirs

Seriously, what beats a musician's memoir?

Pages You Need In Your Life - With Prince's memoirs coming our way in 2017, we're definitely going to get our reading glasses warmed up with some of our favorite music memoirs. His Purple Majesty's memoirs will cover everything from the beginning of his life up until his Super Bowl performance. We're in for a doozy and we just can't wait. In the meantime, check out some other famous memoirs from historical hitmakers. – Jon Reyes (Photo from left: Amistad Publishing, Gallery Books, Grand Central Publishing)

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Pages You Need In Your Life - With Prince's memoirs coming our way in 2017, we're definitely going to get our reading glasses warmed up with some of our favorite music memoirs. His Purple Majesty's memoirs will cover everything from the beginning of his life up until his Super Bowl performance. We're in for a doozy and we just can't wait. In the meantime, check out some other famous memoirs from historical hitmakers. – Jon Reyes (Photo from left: Amistad Publishing, Gallery Books, Grand Central Publishing)

R Kelly, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me - This book has already been through some heavy scrutiny with how accurate it is/isn't. R. Kelly's GQ cover story in 2016 talked about the discrepancies and pointed them out. Even with these accusations, R. Kelly's recollection of his career is enough of a read in and of itself. (Photo: Smiley Books)

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R Kelly, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me - This book has already been through some heavy scrutiny with how accurate it is/isn't. R. Kelly's GQ cover story in 2016 talked about the discrepancies and pointed them out. Even with these accusations, R. Kelly's recollection of his career is enough of a read in and of itself. (Photo: Smiley Books)

Grace Jones, I'll Never Write My Memoirs - Grace Jones has never been shy about dealing with controversy head on, so her memoir is a welcome punctuation for her interesting-as-hell career. What's even more interesting is her take on the pop stars of today. That's a gem you can't miss. (Photo: Gallery Books)

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Grace Jones, I'll Never Write My Memoirs - Grace Jones has never been shy about dealing with controversy head on, so her memoir is a welcome punctuation for her interesting-as-hell career. What's even more interesting is her take on the pop stars of today. That's a gem you can't miss. (Photo: Gallery Books)

Michael Jackson, Moonwalk - A trivia fact about Michael Jackson's memoir: it was edited by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It was a first-hand insight into the pop star's views on plastic surgery and his appearance in general. At the time of its release, those were the most polarizing issues about the artist. If only it had stayed that way. (Photo: Crown Archetype)

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Michael Jackson, Moonwalk - A trivia fact about Michael Jackson's memoir: it was edited by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It was a first-hand insight into the pop star's views on plastic surgery and his appearance in general. At the time of its release, those were the most polarizing issues about the artist. If only it had stayed that way. (Photo: Crown Archetype)

Questlove, Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove - The years will only tell, but we're pretty sure that Questlove's musical career will go down as one of the most significant in contribution. What's remarkable about this memoir is Questlove's ability to take readers into his musical memories. Those very memories shaped who he became as a human being and a musician. (Photo: Grand Central Publishing)

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Questlove, Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove - The years will only tell, but we're pretty sure that Questlove's musical career will go down as one of the most significant in contribution. What's remarkable about this memoir is Questlove's ability to take readers into his musical memories. Those very memories shaped who he became as a human being and a musician. (Photo: Grand Central Publishing)

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Quincy Jones, Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones - With a career that spans almost six decades, this is a necessary read for all music lovers. Quincy's candid recollection of his famous collaborations and rise to fame is a lesson in music industry accession.(Photo: Three Rivers Press)

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Quincy Jones, Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones - With a career that spans almost six decades, this is a necessary read for all music lovers. Quincy's candid recollection of his famous collaborations and rise to fame is a lesson in music industry accession.(Photo: Three Rivers Press)

Diana Ross, Secrets of a Sparrow - Sure, Ms. Ross takes us through the trials and tribulations of her career, but we also get a rare look (at the time of the memoir's release) at Ross as a mother and wife.(Photo: Villard Publishing)

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Diana Ross, Secrets of a Sparrow - Sure, Ms. Ross takes us through the trials and tribulations of her career, but we also get a rare look (at the time of the memoir's release) at Ross as a mother and wife.(Photo: Villard Publishing)

Sammy Davis Jr., Yes I Can - This memoir, published in 1965, was a revelatory portrait of this living legend that not only covered his career but the elephant in the room for successful Black artists at the time: racism. (Photo: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)

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Sammy Davis Jr., Yes I Can - This memoir, published in 1965, was a revelatory portrait of this living legend that not only covered his career but the elephant in the room for successful Black artists at the time: racism. (Photo: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)

Jay Z, Decoded - Before this HOV memoir came to us, he had already scrapped a version of it that was supposed to be released alongside The Black Album called The Black Book. Seven years after the memoir-scrapping, Decoded came to us centered around his prolific lyrics, records and memories that inspired the words. This hip-hop must-read was worth the wait. (Photo: Spiegel & Grau Publishing)

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Jay Z, Decoded - Before this HOV memoir came to us, he had already scrapped a version of it that was supposed to be released alongside The Black Album called The Black Book. Seven years after the memoir-scrapping, Decoded came to us centered around his prolific lyrics, records and memories that inspired the words. This hip-hop must-read was worth the wait. (Photo: Spiegel & Grau Publishing)

Timbaland, The Emperor of Sound - What else can you expect from this guy but a tell-all look into his incredible career? After years of keeping himself behind the soundboards, he moves to the front to give us a glimpse into his career, amazing anecdotes and memories. (Photo: Amistad Publishing)

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Timbaland, The Emperor of Sound - What else can you expect from this guy but a tell-all look into his incredible career? After years of keeping himself behind the soundboards, he moves to the front to give us a glimpse into his career, amazing anecdotes and memories. (Photo: Amistad Publishing)

Scarface, Diary of a Madman - Scarface peels the layers back to take us through his musical career and also lets us into the library that is his mind. His knowledge of the roots of rap is unparalleled and we all need in on it. (Photo: Dey Street Books)

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Scarface, Diary of a Madman - Scarface peels the layers back to take us through his musical career and also lets us into the library that is his mind. His knowledge of the roots of rap is unparalleled and we all need in on it. (Photo: Dey Street Books)