Skip Navigation
Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

Obama On Hip-Hop

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Apr 20 2008, 11:16 PM ET Comment

Barack has some kind words--and some deserved criticism--for hip-hop. Unlike Marsalis and Cosby, Obama actually enjoys some of the music and--most importantly--has considerable respect for it as an art form. Also in his criticism he adds one oft missed problem with the music to the frequently cited duo of misogyny and violence. That would be rank materialism. Anyway here's the clip. Props to Farragut for the link.



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

What Matters in President Obama's 2013 Budget What Matters in President Obama's 2013 Budget
Can Full-Metal jousting Become the Next Ultimate Fighting Championship? Can Full-Metal Jousting Become the Next UFC?
5 Lessons From the Rise of the BRICs 5 Lessons From the World's Great Rising Economies
The fEARLESSness of Jeremy Lin The Fearlessness of Jeremy Lin
Adulthood, Delayed: What Has the Recession Done to Millennials? Adulthood, Delayed: What's the Recession Done to Millennials?

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Special Report
Beyond the BRICs Reuters Beyond the BRICs
A look at the next big global economies—and the rise of a global middle class. Read more ›
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Valentine's Day 2012

Feb 14, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

Ta-Nehisi Coates
from the Magazine

Why Do So Few Blacks Study the Civil War?

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an Atlantic senior editor.

Fade to White

A filmmaker maps Austin’s shifting ethnic landscape.

The Legacy of Malcolm X

Why his vision lives on in Barack Obama