Indeed he is. Anyway, Baltimore City Paper just named The Beautiful Struggle the best book about Baltimore in its "Best of Baltimore" series. Now, I gotta be honest, I don't know how many books I was actually competing with. But, I used to read B-More City Paper when I was a lad coming up, so its quite an honor for them to sing my praises.
Since this is the time to brag, I'll tell you that, after reading the book, Walter Mosley said I was, "the James Joyce of the hip-hop generation." I'd rather be the "James Lofton of any generation" Joyce wasn't quite the deep threat that Lofton was in his later years, but I greatly appreciate the kind words. Also for those B-More Bad Boys (does anyone remember those Starter caps and fitteds custom made for each city?) in the house, I'll be in the area (that's erryah for the uninitiated) next week. On Thursday, I'll be at the Johns Hopkins University bookstore. On Saturday, I'll be at the Baltimore Book Festival with my Pops. Damn, it's gonna be good to get back home. I'm gonna stuff myself on Mo's crabcakes and the meditate in Mondawmin Mall.
Anyway this presents yet another chance to link to the excerpt and the trailer. Check it out.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
Congrats on the well-deserved praise, Mr. Coates, but with all do respect, there was never a threat deeper than my main man, James Joyce.
I meant due respect, of course--the respect you, my good man, are due.
The Mondawmin mall? You must mean the giant new Target. Also, the Hopkins book store is actually a Barnes and Nobles now.
A lot of things about this town really perplex me, but I'm just a white midwestern transplant.
And, congrats!
Congratulations!
"The James Joyce of the hip-hop generation," !That's some heavy praise that could turn your head. Good thing you have a dedicated crew of commenters that tear apart your grammar and spelling to keep you grounded!
Congratulations.
I'm jocking you too because I adore Mosley and his opinion. Perhaps I will come up for the book festival. I would also like to recommend Tha Bloc. Its a book of poetry and photography of Bmore. I think the author's name I TP Luce but he is a Marsalis brother using an alias.
Seriously? Walter Mosley said that about you?
I'd brag too, buddy. Congratulations.
Congratulations TNC!
If you are the James Joyce of the Hip-Hop Generation, I look forward to Coates-Day when readers wander the streets of West Baltimore reading from your work. I used to live in Little LIthuania and worked at a hat store in Baltimore in hte 80's and 90's. Starter caps sold right after Fila caps and right before propeller beanies, which were hip for about 6 months in the early 90's. (the the sales tag still on, of course)
Congrats on all your success. Your father must be very proud of your work ( and his).
I think I would rather be Kenny Lofton than James Lofton.
Well, James Joyce, that's some praise. I wouldn't go that far, but hey, if there is a TNC day, that would be cool!
Your blog is great.
You should check this site out. Great tool for self-promotion.
http://delicious.com
It seems to me that, aside from powerful, energising and articulate, music hasn't been as open and optimistic as it was between 1988 and the early 90s. Looking back now, I can see that we were on the cusp of a reiteration of a summer-of-love consciousness; a Sly and the Family vibe. I feel that those days ended after 1994-5 (let's say after Illmatic) and the entrance of "Gucci this, Gucci that..."
But I remember hip house, and the cross-pollination evident in the pop charts of the time. I remember Neneh Cherry: "smoking - *not* coking." I'll never forget those days - they taught me that, indeed, "music is music," and hip hop, gospel, house, blues, disco, rock, whatever - it's all the same thing.
Thanks for the writing.
Congrats, Hon! Just read the BoB issue today. lots o' places from my neighborhood got nods. glad to see you in the mix. looking forward to you coming back.
I'll be sure to check it out.
Much props!
Ta-Nehisi,
I feel your pain...my mother used to roll up on me in class too. While it nearly killed me back then know I was blessed to have parents who wouldn't...couldn't give up on me. Not everyone is so fortunate.
Congrats, if you don't jock yourself who will?
Nice piece, I like your style kid!
k1
Mondawmin has a Target and a Shopper's Food Warehouse now. Movin' on up.
That video was awesome! Completely aside from the book itself, that's just a great promo tool---really professionally produced, great sound, well-edited. Props to your production team!
Your book is hilarious, just by the by. I mean, certainly some dark stuff, but really funny.
Hey, thanks to Shani for importing Tha Bloc to such good company. Much pluses for your book, Ta-Neishi, and to moving the thing started by your Dad. See you at the Festival...though we will be mightily missing the Karibu Books tent.
I expected "jocked" to mean something completely different before I read this post. It made me think of a phrase I heard once at a hockey game, "lost his jock", in reference to a defenseman who got totally beat on a play.
I really shouldn't like you, what with you being a Cowpunks fan and all ;), but this is a good look. Congrats to you! Look forward to buying and reading.
Regardless, I'll be getting your book real soon.