Summary

Coates narrates that Big Bill joined a rap group with Bill as the rapper. They made demo albums which Bill would listen to over and over and rap along with himself. Ta-Nehisi and his brothers and friends would play grating music with drums and whistles. They became accustomed to the sound, even addicted to it. Coates described that Rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy had emerged as a favorite among his set. Ta-Nehisi and his friends caught phrases like “government of suckers” and “they see me, fear me.” From the banishing of Bull Conner, the music took them closer to the mountaintop than they’d ever been.

They also hit a void of anger and confusion, however. Ta-Nehisi and the others became aware of Reaganomics and its impact on the black community. Coates writes how he met who was known as the “great lion...