from the editor-in-chief.Fall means a harvest of books by "newcomers" whom we read for the first time and hope they return with even stronger work and prove their staying power. It's been a wonderful reading summer. All of us at BIBR BIBR Bay Islands Beach Resort (Roatan, Honduras) BIBR Backward Indicator Bit Received hope you extend your beach, travel and other leisure reading as long as you can, and enjoy this summer's terrific selection of black fiction in every genre. (Refer to our heavy lineup of fiction reviews in the July/August 2001 issue.) But as the days grow shorter and autumn chills begin to chase away summery rays, fall provides a cornucopia cornucopia (kôr'ny  kō`pēə), in Greek mythology, magnificent horn that filled itself with whatever meat or drink its owner requested. of reading that is every bit as stimulating. This issue also highlights the latest literary comments on hip-hop culture and how the black writing community is embracing this newest artistic extension of our African legacy in America. We could think of no better way to explore our important and sometimes controversial African-American street culture than to ask the venerable poet Sonia Sanchez to talk with hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons Russell Simmons (born October 4 ,1957 in Queens, New York), is an American entrepreneur, the co-founder, with Rick Rubin, of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, founder of another label, Russell Simmons Music Group, and creator of the clothing fashion line Phat Farm. , whose Def Poetry Def Poetry, also known as Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry or Def Poetry Jam, is an HBO television series produced by hip-hop music entrepreneur Russell Simmons. Jam will bring hip-hop verse to mass audiences with the same savvy Simmons helped sculpt sculpt v. sculpt·ed, sculpt·ing, sculpts v.tr. 1. To sculpture (an object). 2. To shape, mold, or fashion especially with artistry or precision: hip-hop music into a lucrative commercial industry. The poet talks to the poetry promoter on page 43. Our mission at BIBR is not only to bring you the latest developments in the world of black books, but also to connect current happenings to history. The urban street culture from which hip-hop literature draws is not new, and we hope to remind the new generation of artists of their "gangsta Noun 1. gangsta - (Black English) a member of a youth gang AAVE, African American English, African American Vernacular English, Black English, Black English Vernacular, Black Vernacular, Black Vernacular English, Ebonics - a nonstandard form of American English " roots by exploring the popular works of Iceberg Slim Iceberg Slim (August 4, 1918 – April 28,1992), also known as Robert Beck and born as Robert Lee Maupin, was an African American writer who started out as a pimp and whose writings were particularly successful among black audiences; his descriptions of the pimp and Donald Goines. It took bold, young "rap" writers to make us older readers finally give them their props. I hope the pieces on these now classic underground writers will bridge the generational divide as well as prompt a more serious appreciation of the literature that is emerging from hip-hop culture. Finally as President of BIBR's big sister periodical Black Issues in Higher Education, I'm pleased to introduce BIBR's first snapshot of university press publishing. Look forward to more detailed portraits, as this area of African-American publishing develops. Enjoy the issue as well as the beautiful, changing colors of autumn. As you do, keep in mind the wonderful seasons of reading. Please send us your feedback via letters and E-mail! |
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