You do this thing where so often you’re describing a concert, but really it’s about something else, deeper – almost playing the role of a Trojan Horse.įor me, I think it’s been always useful to begin with the something else. And to become a writer for me was to ask myself a question like, “How can I hone this and become a more efficient weaver of story around this baseline that I already have?” And also, how can I dive deeper into popular culture, so that I’m not just being referential, I’m actually telling a story about how it exists in and impacts the world as I understand it? And I think that led me to the kind of research impulse I have now, I’m kind of always digging and trying to get to the bottom of something that I’m interested in.

I was one of those people who back in the day, when AOL and instant messenger was popping off, my away messages were all song lyrics, like I spoke in song lyrics. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.ĭid you always view yourself as a writer that operated in the pop culture sphere, or is that something you developed later on?īy the time I came to writing, I already kind of cultivated this interest in this world where much of my language, much of the way I made sense of my existence and the existence of others, was tied to some might say an overconsumption of popular culture, so much so that was just where all my reference points were. CNN spoke with Abdurraqib about writing, the poetry in basketball, and his disinterest in the idea of genius. Then, in September, Abdurraqib was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, colloquially known as the “genius grant.” Though not the only accolade attached to his name, it may be among the most prestigious.

In July, he was named an editor for Tin House, a prestigious literary book publisher, and is set to acquire three books. He started hosting “Object of Sound,” a podcast about music and culture. Last year, he started 68to05, an archival project where writers can publish essays on albums that mean a lot to them.

In between writing, Abdurraqib hasn’t slowed down. His latest, “ A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance,” was published in March, and quickly gathered a wide range of accolades, becoming a finalist for the National Book Award. Now, the poet (and writer, sneakerhead, failed musician and average baker) has written five books in just as many years. Hanif Abdurraqib only ever wanted to publish one book, a book of poems.

Me against the world album genius