On Hanif Abdurraqib and Music

Just came across the essay below the other day. Thought you all might enjoy it. It struck me for 2 reasons: 1) we’ve been reading his essays, and 2) that album he’s pictured with on the floor next to him is the recent re-release of Prince’s Sign O The Times, Deluxe Edition.

The image I’ve included with this post is a reference to a poem that Abdurraqib included in his first collection of poetry, The Crown Ain’t Worth Much (Button Poetry/Exploding Pinecone Press, 2016). It’s called “Ode to Prince,” and you can watch him perform it here.

But here’s the essay:

“Hanif Abdurraqib Wants You to Feel as Excited About Music as He Does,” by Char Adams, from NBC News