Apr 29, 2021
[Unedited] Hanif Abdurraqib with Pádraig Ó Tuama
Hanif Abdurraqib’s writing is filled with lyricism, rhythm, people and precision. In his essays and poetry, he introduces readers to a soundscape of Black performance and Black joy: we hear hip-hop and jazz, we hear Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Little Richard. Music and performance of every kind are the source of his fascination, focus and wisdom: what makes people cry, or feel safe, or brave; held in struggle, joy, or love. Hanif is interviewed by our colleague, Pádraig Ó Tuama, a poet himself and the host of On Being Studios_’ __Poetry Unbound_ podcast, now in its third season.
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His poetry has been published in _Muzzle_, _Vinyl_, _PEN American_, and various other journals. His essays and music criticism have been published in _The FADER_, _Pitchfork_, _The New Yorker_, and _The New York Times_. His books include, _A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance_, _The Crown Ain’…