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4.61 AVERAGE
4.61 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
If you haven't read anything by Hanif Abdurraqib yet, you need to start. He maintains such a raw earnestness throughout his collection while covering a range of topics, especially including his experience as a Black man in America.
His writing, in my opinion, is at its sharpest when he's using music as a lens for wider criticism (akin to the approach used in There's Always This Year) but this is an incredibly well-rounded collection — I had to grab a new pen about halfway through because I was underlining so much.
His writing, in my opinion, is at its sharpest when he's using music as a lens for wider criticism (akin to the approach used in There's Always This Year) but this is an incredibly well-rounded collection — I had to grab a new pen about halfway through because I was underlining so much.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
3 stars for the sole reason that I am unfamiliar with every single pop culture figure in this book. I know who Ric Flair is and that's it. Still, the essays are well-written and gave me a perspective on each artist.
THIS is what I would call absolutely essential reading. Having lived in Columbus, Ohio for almost 18 years, I'm so glad to have an insightful, poetic voice like Hanif Abdurraqib's representing our city. Though I can trace his steps throughout Columbus, from the Newport Music Hall to the John Glenn airport to trips down the I-670, what strikes me is how remarkably different our paths and experiences are, despite being connected by a hometown and common themes of music, life & death, sadness & joy. I suppose that's what makes this such essential reading. I would highly recommend taking in Abdurraquib's perspective, breathing in its complexity and fullness, and letting it leave you feeling different after you've finished.
Not what I thought it was. Too many essays focused on music industry, my fault for following TikTok recommendations without doing my own research into the book