Growing Up Hip Hop a Poetry Collection by Kahlil Almustafa
| Growing Up Hip Hop a Poetry Collection by Kahlil Almustafa |
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| Written by Robert ID4486 |
| Tuesday, 12 August 2008 08:54 |
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Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion, kahlil almustafa, will release his third collection of poetry, Growing Up Hip hop: Collected Poems 1992-2007, in New York City on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at Katra Lounge. Like a classic 5-mic hip hop album, kahlil almustafa's latest book captures the universal truths and contradictions inherent within the Hip hop Generation. While many emcees were filling hip hop's recorded musical tradition with stories of braggadocio, drug sales, police encounters, sexual conquests, and gangsta'' glory, the poems is Growing Up Hip hop documents the politics and pain of broken communities, celebrates women as lovers and leaders, and offers a blueprint for restoration and redemption. The book definitively testifies to hip hop's insistence to live. "Ever since I was 15 years-old and first picked up a pen, I always wanted my poetry to address issues which were important but nobody around me was talking about. I''m excited to present this collection because it challenges this idea of poet as rock star and emphasizes the poet's role as witness and story-teller." says almustafa. Known by many as the Poet Laureate of Hip hop, almustafa gained attention in the hip hop community as a performer with GAME Rebellion, performing at the first solar-powered hip hop concert at the US Social Forum, as a member of the "Hip hop 4 President Tour," and as a grantee of the Ford Foundation's Future Aesthetics Artist Regrant (FAAR) award selected by the Hip hop Theater Festival. On August 19th, Growing Up Hip hop, will be available for sale at www.kahlilalmustafa.com. kahlil will also be hosting a Book Release Party at Katra Lounge, 217 Bowery St., in Manhattan (www.katranyc.com), on August 15th from 6pm to 9 pm. About the Book Release Party: Date: Wednesday August 20th, 6 PM to 9 PM Location: Katra Lounge 217 Bowery St. New York, NY 10002 Website: www.katranyc.com Other Reading / Appearances Bluestockings Friday, August 15th, 2008 - 6PM to 8PM 172 Allen Street (btw Stanton & Rivington) New York, NY 10002 MADHELLA @ DEITY Pre-Release Party for Growing Up Hip Hop Friday, August 15th, 2008 - 10PM until 368 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, NY Growing Up Hip hop Performance Sat, August 16, 2008 - 8PM SugarBar 254 72nd New York, NY 1 About Growing Up Hip hop: In an era when many question if "hip hop is dead," Growing Up Hip hop definitively testifies to hip hop's insistence to live. In this collection, award winning poet kahlil almustafa captures the evolutionary experiences, boldness, politics, dysfunction, contradictions and healing that have defined the hip hop generation. Known by many as the Poet Laureate of Hip hop, almustafa has performed at open mics, universities, prisons and rallies across the country. Growing Up Hip hop chronicles the growth of one young man, leaving the reader with inspiration for action and a formula for change. About kahlil almustafa: kahlil almustafa is the 2002 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion, and author of Grandma's Soup (February 2001) and I''m Crying Everyone's Tears (August 2002). He recently released his debut CD, CounterIntelligence. almustafa gained attention in the hip hop community as a performer with GAME Rebellion, performing at the first solar-powered hip hop concert, while participating in the "Hip hop 4 President Tour," and as a grantee of the Future Aesthetics Artist Regrant (FAAR) Program selected by the Hip hop Theater Festival. Praise for the Author: almustafa is unafraid to tackle thorny issues of race, gender, class, love, hate, with a keen eye and a precision worthy of a doctor, a healer, a root worker. Listen to him, read him, and be prepared to have your mind and heart reflected by his truth-telling mirror. - Kevin Powell, author/activist The words of kahlil almustafa are both fierce and loving, chilling yet warm, a reminder that poetry goes beyond spoken word touching not only the ears, but the heart and the soul. His work possesses an integrity reserved for the truly gifted, one that reminds the elders and the ancestors that we are still here, still fighting-with genuine spirits like kahlil on the frontlines. - Toni Blackman, Author Inner-Course/US Hip hop Ambassador kahlil almustafa’s poetry has a mixture of content and soul. It comes out as powerful in its message as it does in its style. - Ras Baraka, Deputy Majority Leader of Newark |
