April 12, 2006

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12^th @ 7PM

Author TOURE speaks and presents his book NEVER DRANK THE KOOL-AID

A meet and greet reception with Toure will be held at 6pm, prior to the event. If you are interested in attending, RSVP to jne22@drexel.edu

As author Touré grapples with hip-hop's place in American culture and his own complicated responses to it, his subjects come to startling life: Embattled rapper 50 Cent's girlfriend proudly displays their young child's pint-sized, bullet-proof vest; genial MC DMX casually recalls the time he stabbed a first-grade classmate in the face; fearsome record exec Suge Knight decorates his offices with framed portraits of Lucille Ball and Elvis Presley, and soul diva Alicia Keys confesses her painfully conflicted reaction to post-9/11 patriotism. Fascinating bits of off-the-cuff sociology abound: The author compares rap collectives such as the Wu-Tang Clan and the Junior M.A.F.I.A. to traditional African family structures; the plight of the gay rapper is frankly addressed; graffiti artists play cat-and-mouse withauthorities in the pursuit of their ephemeral art.

This is a wholly involving and piercingly intelligent examination of contemporary popular culture.

RSVPs for the reception can be emailed to Jackie Eliassen at jne22@drexel.edu .No RSVP is necessary for the event itself.