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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.

As If Holyfield Just Won The Fight...

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Dec 9 2009, 3:57 PM ET Comment

I don't really know what you can say about a group that turns an episode of Good Times into an awesome hook. Lyrically, this is one of my least favorite songs on Aquemini. Uncaged by the strict confines of a beat, I find the writing to be less disciplined, and more cliche. But that really doesn't say much. Still some amazing lyrics, and better than a lot of "spoken word." And the horns are just murderous.

Frankly, I love this song. People who think there's no art to hip-hop ought to give it a try.



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