I indeed endorse this crucial project! There is no doubt these visionary voices are badly needed in our grim times!
Cornel West This book is delivered to us at the perfect time, in an era where many believe society is at a crossroads and America truly needs saving from a legacy of disparity and division that anchors us in unrealized potential. Hip Hop has always been more than rap musicit is a culture of resilience, creativity, and transformation. Manny Faces deep understanding of the culture, coupled with the voices and experiences of innovative and boundary spanning change-makers, creates a reading experience that is as informative as it is compelling. We have a responsibility, and now a blueprint to build and promote community, to transcend what is risky and destructive, and to embrace what is transformative and empowering. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand and harness the transformative power of Hip Hop culture to bring out the best in individuals, communities, and society.
Dr. Raphael Travis Jr., LCSW Professor and MSW Program Director at Texas State University Based on interviews from his fascinating podcast "Hip-Hop Can Save America!" Manny Faces amplifies some of todays most urgent issues impacting Hip Hop culture and society at large. Featuring an impressive array of top-notch interlocutors who are all experts in their respective fields (education, technology, activism, artistry, archives), the book employs sharp journalistic skills to throw new light on a broad swath of relevant topics. With a distinctive flair that can be deeply serious and raucously funny, Manny Faces demonstrates that hes a good listener as he turns it up and brings the noise!
Dr. Murray Forman Co-Editor, Thats The Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader and Professor of Media & Screen Studies at Northeastern University