Hanif Abdurraqib facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hanif Abdurraqib
Hanif Abdurraqib at CityLit 2023 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Maryland
Born	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Poet, music critic
Genre	Poetry, essays, non-fiction
Subject	Music, culture, identity
Notable works	A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, The Crown Ain't Worth Much, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, Go Ahead in the Rain
Notable awards	MacArthur Fellow
Website
www.abdurraqib.com/

Hanif Abdurraqib (born in 1983) is an American writer. He writes poetry, essays, and about culture. His first collection of essays, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, came out in 2017. In 2021, his essay collection A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance won the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence. Abdurraqib also received a special award called a MacArthur Fellowship in 2021.

His poetry books include The Crown Ain't Worth Much (2016) and A Fortune for Your Disaster (2019). His 2019 non-fiction book, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes on A Tribe Called Quest, was about the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. This book was considered for the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Early Life and Education

Hanif Abdurraqib was born and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He was raised in the Muslim faith. When he was 13 years old, his mother passed away due to a health issue. He finished high school at Beechcroft High School in 2001. Later, he went to Capital University. There, he studied marketing and played on the university's soccer team.

Writing Career

Hanif Abdurraqib is known for his unique writing style. He often combines personal stories with thoughts on music and culture.

Poetry Collections

Columbus, Ohio, is the setting for Abdurraqib's first poetry book. It is called The Crown Ain't Worth Much and was published in July 2016. Reviewers praised his powerful writing. Publishers Weekly said his poems about being young and Black in America were "undeniable." The Indiana Review called the collection "expansive and rich."

Abdurraqib has received many honors for his poetry. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He was also a fellow at Callaloo, a well-known literary journal. PBS's Articulate with Jim Cotter said he is helping to change what poetry means today. In April 2017, his small book of poems, Vintage Sadness, sold out quickly. He also became the managing editor for Button Poetry in August 2017. His second poetry collection, A Fortune for Your Disaster, was released in September 2019.

In 2018, Abdurraqib taught poetry. He was a visiting poet in the MFA program at Butler University.

Essays and Non-Fiction

Abdurraqib's essays have appeared in many popular publications. These include The Fader, The New York Times, and Pitchfork. He also wrote columns for MTV News. His writing often explores music, culture, and identity. His essay about Fetty Wap's song "Trap Queen" was named important writing by people of color in 2015.

His essay collection They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us was published in November 2017. Publishers Weekly called it "mesmerizing and deeply perceptive." The book received good reviews from The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune. A special five-year anniversary edition of the book was released in November 2022. It included three new essays.

In 2019, Abdurraqib published Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest. This book was part of the American Music Series by University of Texas Press. It quickly became a bestseller on The New York Times list. Critics praised how the book blended music history with personal stories. NPR said that even if you weren't a fan of A Tribe Called Quest, Abdurraqib would make you one. The book was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and was considered for the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

His book A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance was released in March 2021. Publishers Weekly called it "luminous" and "stunning." Kirkus described it as "Another winner from Abdurraqib." This book won the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. It also received the 2021 Gordon Burn Prize.

Abdurraqib's 2024 book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, was also considered for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Podcasts

In 2021, Abdurraqib started a weekly podcast. It is called "Object of Sound" and is with Sonos Radio. This podcast focuses on music. It features interviews and special music playlists chosen by Abdurraqib and his guests.

He also created a short series for the podcast The 11th. This miniseries was called "Time Machine: The Score."

Awards and Recognition

In 2017, Abdurraqib received an honorary degree from the College of the Atlantic. His book The Crown Ain't Worth Much was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award. It was also nominated for a 2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.

His essay collection They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us was named one of the best books of 2017 by many places. These included NPR, Pitchfork, and Esquire. Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest was a finalist for the 2019 Kirkus Prize. It was also longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

In June 2021, a mural called The People's Mural of Columbus was announced. It features Abdurraqib in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Abdurraqib was given a MacArthur Fellowship in 2021. He also received a Windham-Campbell Prize in 2024. These are very important awards for writers.

Personal Life

Hanif Abdurraqib returned to Columbus, Ohio, in 2017.