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Discussions of Hip Hop and Rap in the mainstream media often revolve around violent imagery, misogynist lyrics and videos, and a fascination with the dramatic lives of industry musicians. The art of the spoken word as expressed in hip hop is often forgotten. But now, a new book by Adam Bradley, Professor of Literature at Claremont-McKenna College, examines in detail, the artistry behind the music. Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop challenges the conventional conversation by appraising hip hop lyrics as a revolutionary innovation in contemporary poetry. “Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop,” analyzes rap though its rhymes, similes, storytelling, and wordplay in constructing the argument that the genre has changed a generation’s relationship to the spoken word. Dr. Cornel West has called Bradley’s work, “a marvelous exploration into the poetic genius of rap and the cultural gravity of hip hop. His analysis is subtle, sophisticated and soulful!”

GUEST: Adam Bradley, Professor of Literature at Claremont-McKenna College, author of Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop