Can reading poetry make you a better writer? The way poetry pushes up against the rules of grammar makes it a great teacher even for the writing of standard prose. And while plenty of poems are best comprehended by the wise and mature, hip-hop is a...
In this week's episode, we go from hip-hop to a public television show about the intra- and inter-class conflicts in a British manor house. We also talk about "flupgrades," what you might call it when a software update...
Hip-hop is high art. If you don’t understand that, you’re missing out on some of the best poetry being created today. Grant talks about the new book by English professor Adam Bradley called Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip-Hop.
graffer n.— «There’s been an explosion of graffiti in the downtown district in New Haven this summer. To the trained eye, it’s not just an part of the urban landscape. Police say, it is often a reflection of what’s going on in the streets...
twist (someone’s) cap v. phr. 1. to amaze, astonish, or enlighten. 2. (in hip-hop) to kill someone; to beat, outwit, or get the better of someone. Also twist (someone’s) cap back. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
make it rain v. phr.— «From time to time, patrons flung plumes of cash toward the rafters, letting the dollar bills flutter where they may—a ritual known as “making it rain.” It began as a flashy way for big-timers to tip the...
