Hanif Abdurraqib is a cultural critic, essayist, and poet from Columbus, Ohio. He is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic, and his work has been published in The New Yorker, Pitchfork, and Vibe, among other publications. He is the author of three books, including Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, and A Luckly Man: Notes on Parenting.
Abdurraqib’s writing covers a wide range of topics, including music, pop culture, fashion, politics, race, and religion. He has written about the impact of 9/11 on hip-hop, the rise and fall ofearlier versions of Facebook, and the life and death of Trayvon Martin. He has also covered the 2016 presidential campaign and the 2017 Women’s March for The New York Times.
As a writer, Abdurraqib seeks to “center the lives and stories of those who are routinely sidelined.”
Who is Hanif Abdurraqib?
Hanif Abdurraqib is a cultural critic, essayist, and poet from Columbus, Ohio. The articulate, passionate author of three critically acclaimed books is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic and his work has been published in The New Yorker, Pitchfork, and Vibe, among other publications. His career spans many disciplines, from music and fashion to religion and politics, and his writing explores a wide range of societal topics in a unique and thought-provoking way.
His writing career
Abdurraqib began writing as a hobby in his free time, but his writing quickly became a full-time job. He started putting out independent albums, writing freelance pieces for publications like Pitchfork and Vibe, and eventually released his first book, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest. From there, he has released two critically acclaimed collections of essays, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and A Lucky Man: Notes on Parenting, making him one of the most respected writers of our time.
His musical pursuits
In addition to his writing career, Abdurraqib is a talented musician. He started his career by making independent albums in his spare time, though he went on to create some of the most lauded hip-hop albums of the year and even toured with some of the industry’s biggest acts, like Run The Jewels and Chance The Rapper. His music focuses on telling the stories of minority communities, specifically his home of Columbus, Ohio.
What Abdurraqib covers in his writing
Abdurraqib’s writing covers a wide range of topics, including music, pop culture, fashion, politics, race, and religion. He has written about the impact of 9/11 on hip-hop, the rise and fall of earlier versions of Facebook, and the life and death of Trayvon Martin. He has also covered the 2016 presidential campaign and the 2017 Women’s March for The New York Times.
His impact as a writer
Since his writing career began, Abdurraqib has been recognized as an important voice in modern society. He is celebrated for his unique worldview and ability to discuss complex topics with candor and compassion. As he puts it, his work is “an attempt to center the lives and stories of those who are routinely sidelined.” His writing has been praised for its thoughtful, powerful, and accessible approach, and he has become an exemplary figure for a new generation of writers.
His Work
“The Summer A Tribe Called Quest Broke Up” in Muzzle
“Poems From an Email Exchange” in Medium
“The Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh What A Night),” and “Carly Rae Jepsen – “E•MO•TION” in The Account
“Five Prayer Fragments,” “Olivia Newton John – Let’s Get Physical,” and “Rihanna – Birthday Cake” in Pinwheel
“I Don’t Know Any Longer Why The Flags Are At Half-Staff” in Split This Rock
‘Notes On Ode To Kanye West Ending In A Chain Of Mothers Rising From The River’ in Poetry Society of America
“It’s Just That I’m Not Really Into Politics” in BOAAT
“I Tend To Think Forgiveness Looks The Way It Does In The Movies” and “None Of My Vices Are Violent Enough To Undo Remembering” in Wildness
“And What Good Will Your Vanity Be When The Rapture Comes” in Brooklyn Magazine
“If Life Is As Short As Our Ancestors Insist It Is, Why Isn’t Everything I Want Already At My Feet” and “Watching A Fight At The New Haven Dog Park, First Two Dogs And Then Their Owners” at Narrative Northeast
“The Ghost Of Marvin Gaye Sits In The Ruins Of The Old Livingston Flea Market And Considers Monogamy” and “Welcome To Heartbreak” in Frontier
NOTES ON POP
SELECTED ESSAYS
“On Seatbelts And Sunsets” in Triangle House
“You’ve Got Mail” in Four Columns
“The Resurrection Of Aretha Franklin” in Pacific Standard
“The Selling Of Two Timberlakes” in Pacific Standard
“Keeping Bill Withers Alive” in The New York Times
“The American Road Trip” (with photographer Andre Wagner) in The New York Times
“The Vanishing Monuments of Columbus, Ohio” in The New Yorker
SELECTED PROFILES
“Just Some Kids From Northeast Ohio” in Bleacher Report
“Mo Salah Is Ready To Make The Whole World Smile” in Bleacher Report
Kid Cudi Cover Story in Billboard
“Natasha Trethewey Wants America To Have A Personal Reckoning” in Buzzfeed
I GET INTERVIEWED
Tiny Spills at Cosmonauts Avenue
My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade Ten Year Anniversary Podcast Interview on NPR
New York Times Popcast: Drake’s More Life
Ringer Profile on A Fortune For Your Disaster
Millennials Are Killing Capitalism Podcast Interview
The Poet Salon Podcast Interview
Between The Covers Podcast Interview
It’s All Dead Podcast Interview
Cookies Hoops Podcast Interview
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