Extract

This book would not have been possible without God, my wife, family, friends, mentors, colleagues, and students. Shout out to my wife, Ani—I love you with all the light in my being. Special shout out to Michael Cirelli and Urban Word NYC for always believing in me. Huge shout out to Dr. Chris Emdin, whose brilliance, love, and mentorship have become a model for the kind of relationships I strive to maintain with the young people in my life. Thanks for reminding me to “stay low and keep firing.” Shout out to the whole #HipHopEd movement, especially Ian Levy, Edmund Adjapong, Emily Bailin, Tim Jones, and Amil Cook. Shout out to the English Education Department at Teachers College. Shout out to my mentor at work, Mickey Diamond, the teacher I want to be when I grow up. Shout out to Allyson Krone, my vice principal, who has supported and encouraged me since day one. Shout out to the Performing Arts Department, especially Scott Killian and Rod Shepard. Shout out to all my students, to whom this whole book is dedicated. Shout out to Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment. Shout out to Jon Sands. Shout out to David Kirkland. Shout out to Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz. Shout out to Bronwen Low. Shout out to Kevin Coval and the Breakbeat Poets who gave me so much life and inspiration with their dope anthology of poetry. Shout out to Taylor Mali. Shout out to Paul Beresniewicz for the stunning cover art....