Reviews

Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib

dunderdorian's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

I have to admit that I haven’t listened to much rap, or at least the earlier stuff that this chronicles in such a beautiful way, and yet the way Abdurraqib writes makes me nostalgic for something I’ve never delved into. 

I’m definitely going to have to look into his poetry after this if this is how he writes nonfiction.

bart_gunn's review against another edition

5.0

A tremendous book on many levels

bjt1977's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

As a huge fan of Tribe and that area of hip hop in the late 80s and early 90s, I'm the target audience.
This book was beautiful. Part history of Tribe, part history of the genre, part personal attachment to the art, 100 love letter to Tribe.
It reads like poetry at points and was entertaining throughout.

elizabooks's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.75

sagegreen19's review

4.0

Extremely well written and engaging analysis of not just ATCQ, but hip hop in general. It’s clearly written by a hip hop head who deeply appreciates the genre and respect for its past, appreciation for its present, and hope for its future.

invaderlinz's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

zmull's review

4.0

Go Ahead in the Rain is a collection of essays about A Tribe Called Quest that looks at the group through lens both cultural and personal. Hanif Abdurraqif is a great writer and offers worthwhile insights into the history of the group and the greater story of rap music and African-American culture generally. My only issue is that Abdurraqif never delves into Tribe's more problematic lyrical content. A 2019 book about the foremost "conscious rap" group in music history, really cannot be complete without some words on the homophobia and misogyny that mar their otherwise classic records. This book made me want to re-listen to Beats, Rhymes, and Life. That's an achievement by itself.

sinvvas's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

checkplease's review

4.0

4.5 Stars

anibenfrad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0