Vibrate Higher
A Rap Story
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4.7 • 10 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Vibrate Higher: A Groundbreaking Memoir of Hip-Hop as a Political Force from Acclaimed Rapper Talib Kweli
In Vibrate Higher, Talib Kweli, one of the most lyrically gifted and socially conscious rappers of the past twenty years, offers a riveting firsthand account of hip-hop as a cultural and political force. Growing up in Brooklyn, Kweli was part of the first generation to experience hip-hop as an established genre, with its own pantheon of heroes, rich history, and distinct worldview.
From cutting class to spitting rhymes, Kweli's journey led him to collaborations with some of hip-hop's greatest, including Mos Def, Common, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Kendrick Lamar. He also delves into his experiences selling books out of the oldest African-American bookstore in Brooklyn, leaving his record label, and taking control of his own recording career.
Beyond illuminating Kweli's upbringing and artistic success, Vibrate Higher gives life to hip-hop as a political force that galvanized the Movement for Black Lives and serves as a continual channel for resistance against the rising tide of white nationalism. This groundbreaking memoir is a must-read for fans of rap music, black culture, and African American history.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hip-hop musician Kweli recounts his rise through the music industry and shares his thoughts on current events in this outspoken and enthusiastic memoir. Kweli shares his upbringing as a "supernerd" from a middle-class Brooklyn family who went to boarding school and later incorporated Afro-centric philosophy into his "Black consciousness" hip-hop style. He narrates his rise as a whirl of deals and tours, collaborations with celebrities including Jay-Z and Dave Chappelle, recording sessions, and confrontations with industry execs who mismarketed his music and business managers who neglected his finances. Kweli is effusive about most of the musicians he knows, and waxes mystically about the "vibe" a blend of social scene and creative ferment at the metaphysical heart of musical collaboration. ("A vibe cannot be re-created; it can only be appreciated for what it is.") On nonmusic matters, he revisits his activism at the Ferguson, Mo., protests after the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, chastises President Trump and Kanye West for promoting white supremacy, battles tirelessly with racists on Twitter, and weighs in on his privilege ("As a straight American male, I was born into at least three oppressor groups"). The tone leans toward the hyperbolic at times, but the prose remains strong throughout. Kweli's fans are in for a treat.
