Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest
Ratings15
Average rating4.6
I have to admit that I haven't listened to much rap, or at least the earlier stuff that this chronicles in such a beautiful way, and yet the way Abdurraqib writes makes me nostalgic for something I've never delved into.
I'm definitely going to have to look into his poetry after this if this is how he writes nonfiction.
I know very little about rap music, and almost nothing about A Tribe Called Quest. But Hanif Abdurraqib's beautiful, poetic writing made this book a joy despite my ignorance, in the same way that [b:There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension 181346634 There's Always This Year On Basketball and Ascension Hanif Abdurraqib https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691597828l/181346634.SY75.jpg 89651527] didn't require me to be an expert sports analyst. Abdurraqib uses his subjects as a scaffolding to explore universal feelings of love and loss. Anyone who can link a song or artist to a specific time, place, and emotion will relate to this musical bio/memoir/poetry.* I continue to be awed by Abdurraqib's singular talent. *Note: I acknowledge my white privilege that allows me to empathize with but not fully inhabit the experiences of Black individuals in the US that are described in this book.
This is the first book of Hanif's that I've read and it lived up to expectations. Poetic, nostalgic, present, weaving resonant stories from history, pop culture, and adolescence.
I have ADORED Abdurraqib's other writing so much and have often commented on how much I love reading his thoughts about music even when I'm not familiar with the artists he's writing about. And yet I was still a little reluctant to pick up a whole book just about 1 group that I'm not at all familiar with. But I finally did it and guess what....it's so fucking good. He is so so gifted at making you understand what about music speaks to him, and also at fusing it with memoir and history because after all music is something that's both so personal and yet so public and generational.
Also yeah then I went and listened to a bunch of A Tribe Called Quest's music and uhhh guess what...they're great. (Hot takes no one asked for from a millennial white lady.)