TO READ: "When Rap Music Had a Conscience"

Years ago when I was an editorial assistant at Random House, I worked with an editor who had a young daughter who wanted to be a writer. As I recall, this young lady's first interest was in speculative fiction (to oversimplify it: science fiction/fantasy), but as it turns out, these years down the road, she's making her way via non-fiction. Her new book, "When Rap Music Had a Conscience" is out now, and it tackles a set of issues that lies close to the hearts of many of us no-longer-so-young hip-hop heads. The author, Tayannah Lee McQuillar, is interviewed by Salon today; pick up her book when you can and show a sister some support!