Fresh Voice on "Never Drank The Kool-Aid"

As expected, the weekend was absolutely crazy. I took part in the event at Gabriel's following the NC A&T/WSSU game in Greensboro and if this is a sign of things to come this fall... wow. The Labor Day Classic went off without a hitch in Durham, and the events (stepshow and after party) surrounding the game were a huge success. As for the battles of the bands... A&T and NCCU, period.

We have a new contributer to "Posted On The Yard" who goes by the name heiressapparent. She is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill but hails from the DC area and is a New Yorker at heart. She just completed an internship with MTV in Times Square, so she has plenty to offer on music as well as a eye for fashion. Very opinionated, she brings experience and a fresh voice to these posts. heiressapparent's latest:

So as far as I understand I've been given the opportunity to write about what I like, what I don't like, and more importantly what I think you'll like. Now, I know we've all started classes already and professors have been doing nothing but giving out reading assignments or textbooks to buy, but I, being the amazing student that I am (not), have found the perfect distraction. It’s a book. Yeah, I said it, a book. Now before you go and dismiss me as a lame, I must tell you that this is not as much a book as it is a compellation of interviews with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and pop culture. The author is Toure, a highly acclaimed hip-hop journalist who is a feature writer for Rolling Stone and most recently a correspondent on BET Style. He even had his own show on MTV2 (for all you Direct TV subscribers), where he interviewed MC’s as well as leaders in the black community. The book is called Never Drank the Kool-Aid, and features interviews with all the hip-hop greats, (Biggie, Tupac, Jay, Eminem, 50, Kanye, ?uestlove) as well as pop culture icons and political figures (Prince, Colin Powell, Al Sharpton). The man even has an article entitled "Condoleezza Rice is a House Negro", which in my opinion is reason enough to buy the book in itself. To all you athletes, I didn't forget you, and neither did Toure. He has an amazing article on UNC-Chapel Hill's greatest export, Michael Jordan, which may in fact change your opinion on the “greatest man to ever play the game.”

Toure is able to delve into the personal lives of these seemingly untouchable artists, and more importantly explains how their artistic image affects African-American culture. This book was my summertime obsession. I definitely wouldn't call myself an avid reader but it can easily be read in 3-4 days. It’s the perfect distraction because you are reading about something you're interested in...but, still reading! So go on and put down that copy of 1984 and pick up Never Drank the Kool-Aid, it is definitely sure to entertain and inform.