Specter Literary Magazine #10
(The Hip-Hop Issue)
painting by Matthew Curry
copyright 2012
For those who think that Hip-Hop is only about music and style, the editors of the cool online literary journal Specter have a treat for you. With their newest issue, guest edited by writer and teacher Rion Amilcar Scott, Specter attempts to take Hip-Hop Lit to another level. Overflowing with beautiful writing, art and photography, inside you'll find a novel excerpt by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, poetry by Charlie Braxton, a short story/novel excerpt by me and loads of other textual treats. The wild styled cover art, as shown above, was painted by Matthew Curry, is a masterpiece that should make artists like Lee, Fab Five Freddy and the spirit of Dondi quite proud.
Although folks usually think "Hip-Hop Lit" is all about blood, bullets and broads, the editors of Specter, like KRS-One once rapped, "...think very deeply." Indeed, these young innovators offer a brilliant sampling of cutting edge writing and images that will will elevate your mind and make you happy. If the Rza and Roxanne Shante had a baby, it would be the Specter Hip-Hop Issue. Peace...
Specter Literary Journal #10: http://www.spectermagazine.com
Special Issue #1: Hip Hop
Side A
“Editor’s Note or Portrait of the Hip-Hop Issue as a Spotify Playlist”
“Speaker” by Bro. Yao (Hoke Smith Glover III)
“Of Breakbeats and B-Boys” by Michael Gonzales
“She Woke up With the Words in Her Mouth (novel excerpt)” by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
“Video Vixen of the Year” by Iresha Picot
“Bebop/Hiphop” by Michael Jones
“dark side of the rainbow” by Marianne Betterly
Side B
“Portrait of the Hip-Hop Issue as a Spotify Playlist–Side B”
“Spoken Like a True Word: Bianca Mikahn, Eminem,
and a Spoken Word, Hip-Hopped-Up Assay/ Essay… Memoir of Sorts”
“Land of a Thousand Rappers: Protagonist” by Michael Kaufmann
“We Listen to Biggie in English II” by P.J. Williams
“2 Rap Flashes” by Justin Carter
”Love & Hip-Hop: Chrissy to Jim Jones” by Camonghe Felix
“New York Talk” by Mariahdessa Tallie