Work In Progress: To Be Grown, Black & Creative

Adu pours out his ups and downs as a Black man in a creative industry in what he calls his last book, an emotional “Keep it 100”. In the book Adu honors the tears and stories of present day Black creative leaders he stands on the shoulders of. Work In Progress (W.I.P) will energize your melanin to think bigger, be outspoken and continue to pursue your creative dreams. Adu hopes that Black creatives will step up to who they are, the occasion and everything that has made them the amazing individuals that they are. Adu started writing W.I.P in 2019 however between 2020, 2021 and 2022 the direction of the book shifted as he realized there was a stronger need to support and motivate up-and-coming Black creatives. He’s appreciative of the mentors he has had in his career and wanted to share tips he received over the course of his 10 year creative journey. This book is a beautiful tribute to the pain and frustration brothers and sisters have faced throughout their creative journey during a global pandemic and reassures them that they’re not alone. “This book is nothing like the previous two books I wrote. I was able to explore different writing styles and visual designs to tell this story. The book is a mixed media digital story filled with experiences, poems and motivational one-liners. I’ve found power in not going to social media all the time to express my thoughts or even expressing everything at the exact moment when I feel it but instead putting it in this book. The flow of the book will be odd to some but this was the best way to express my thoughts on race, culture and Black empowerment” In 2016, Adu released his first book, “Don’t Insert Title Here: The Guide Towards Creative Freedom and Success.” and his second in 2018, “The Threat of Creative Annihilation.” Releasing his first book in 2016 Adu says “W.I.P” is the conclusion of a story he’s been trying to tell for seven years and with seven being the number of completion this will be the last book he writes. Adu currently lives in the Bay Area where he hosts his new podcast "A Dose of Black Joy & Caffeine" On his show Adu navigates through super small yet hyper specific conversations within the Black community that bring individuals a dose of Black Joy to keep them going. Conversations range from The Electric Slide, HBCU Experience, NBA 2K Vs. NBA Street and of course Oprah. Adu has been recognized by local and national pr, marketing and advertising outlets including Saint Heron (Founded by Solange Knowles), BET, Black Enterprise, ADCOLOR Conference & Awards, CNN, Soul Train, Revolt TV, Blavity, CW 33, Ebony/Jet Magazine, Rolling Out, American Advertising Federation, HuffPost and AdAge, receiving such recognitions as Adweek’s 2017 feature, “100 People Who Make Advertising Great,” Black Enterprise’s 2016 Modern Man Highlight, The San Francisco Egotist’s “32 Under 32 Top Advertising Professionals” and Dallas Observer’s “30 Under 30” honoree. Adu is also a lecturer who teaches classes in advertising, marketing, corporate identity and product creation. He credits his career versatility to hard work and a calling to change the world with innovative ideas. “Through my artistry, I aspire to challenge my team to think outside the box and I hope to inspire everyone around the world to push the boundaries of their creativity,” Adu said