Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

Under-Review: Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story

Posted on April 14, 2021August 13, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on Under-Review: Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story

Vibrate Higher: A Rap Story
by Talib Kweli
Published by Picador on February 15, 2022
Rap // Non-Fiction // Politics


If we’re being honest…Talib Kweli sums up his hip hop memoir in his aptly titled hit I Try:
“Life is a beautiful struggle
People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle
Some people usin’ the noodle, some people usin’ the muscle
Some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle.”

And there’s Vibrate Higher’s themes. Though more than Talib Kweli’s autobiography; this is a firsthand account of hip hop as a culture: the craft and activism.

On Page 65 he writes…
“Some hip hop fans can’t see past the music that was out when they were in high school or college because that’s when they were defining themselves. Music that is attached to the memories you made as you were figuring out who you were will always sound better to your ears than anything that comes out after that time. This is our nature.”

I know Talib Kweli is not a household name but if you want an engaging read about a creator finding his vocation, a poet discovering his power, a citizen understanding his voice all set to some classic Kanye West tales then this is your jam.

“This is not a rallying cry for real hip-hop, or a guidebook on how to be more conscious in the way you live. This is not a manifesto handed down from the tops of mountains. This is simply me, in all my glory, pain, splendor, and shame. This is about the people and the events that shaped me. These are stories about the places that raised me in equal measure with my parents. This is the revelation I have been running toward since I first put a sixteen-bar verse together. Writing this book has shown me what I’ve always known but was either too scared or too proud to share anywhere outside the box that is a hip-hop song.” (From Page 4)

What else would you expect from hip hop’s conscious corner. Clearly: Common Sense. Heh.

-28-

Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter because the F in FOMO doesn’t stand for Fun.

Books, New Book Alert Tags:Hip Hop, Music, New Book Alert, Rap, Reading is FUNdamental, Talib Kweli

Post navigation

Previous Post: New Book Alert: April 5-9, 2021
Next Post: Under-Review: Yearbook

More Related Articles

New Book Alert: August 3-7, 2020 New Book Alert
New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021 New Book Alert
New Book Alert: January 18-22, 2021 New Book Alert
New Book Alert: February 1-5, 2021 New Book Alert
New Book Alert: September 2-6, 2019 New Book Alert
New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022 New Book Alert

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: September 25-October 1, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It's my birthday week and the TV recommendations are…well mostly my taste. Some cake and candles to go with this week's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 18-24, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    For this week's TV recommendations we got a Superpower, Super Models, a Saint and Saving people. That's right it's #SetTheVCR where this weekend we check into The Continental for a 3 night stay.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 11-17, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is Based on a True Story. Lots of TV recommendations that'll guide you through the Wilderness but do look out for a sudden Swarm or even a comedic Wolf.
  • #CouchWorthy: August 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A terrific TV recap of August 2023. Here some August TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. Sweet Sammy Suggestions for August 2023…
  • #SetTheVCR: September 4-10, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a Rogues' Gallery of thieves, creeps, killers and criminals. Oh and lots of Star Trek to balance out all the dark TV recommendations.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 28-September 3, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    RoboCop and a Wanted fugitive. Choose Love because it's time to #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 21-27, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Flash forward and see yourself enjoying these TV recommendations with your Vacation Friends: It's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: August 14-20, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Take Shelter from the Summer heat with these Untold TV Recommendations: from Elvis to Tracy Morgan this week's #SetTheVCR is Killing It.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 7-13, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    You maybe Summering but with this #SetTheVCR post is All Up In The Biz of TV recommendations. Only Murders In The Building returns so we should kick off this TV week with a Clue.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 31-August 6, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Welcome to the Paradise of TV Recommendations: this week's #SetTheVCR is bursting with blockbusters and concludes with a Lollapalooza livestream. Not bad for the dog days of Summer.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Yaron Weitzman's Tanking to the Top. Trust The Process of The Philadelphia 76ers?
  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme