Go Ahead in the Rain Audiobook By Hanif Abdurraqib cover art

Go Ahead in the Rain

Notes to A Tribe Called Quest

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Go Ahead in the Rain

By: Hanif Abdurraqib
Narrated by: Ron Butler
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About this listen

The seminal rap group A Tribe Called Quest brought jazz into the genre, resurrecting timeless rhythms to create masterpieces. This narrative follows Tribe from their early days as part of the Afrocentric rap collective known as the Native Tongues, through their first three classic albums, to their eventual breakup and long hiatus. Their work is placed in the context of the broader rap landscape of the 1990s, one upended by sampling laws that forced a reinvention in production methods, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry that threatened to destroy the genre, and some record labels’ shift from focusing on groups to individual MCs.

Throughout the narrative, poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib connects the music and cultural history to their street-level impact. Whether he’s remembering The Source magazine cover announcing the Tribe’s 1998 breakup or writing personal letters to the group after bandmate Phife Dawg’s death, Abdurraqib seeks the deeper truths of A Tribe Called Quest, truths that - like the low end, the bass - are not simply heard in the head but are felt in the chest. Digging into the group’s history, Abdurraqib draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself. The result is as ambitious and genre-bending as the rap group itself.

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Critic reviews

"[R]iveting and poetic…Abdurraqib's gift is his ability to flip from a wide angle to a zoom with ease. He is a five-tool writer, slipping out of the timeline to deliver vivid, memoiristic splashes as well as letters he's crafted to directly address the central players, dead and living." (Washington Post)

"[W]arm, immediate, and intensely personal...This lush and generous book is a call to pay proper respects not just to a sound but to a feeling." (New York Times)

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Editor's Pick

I’m not crying, you’re crying
"It’s no small feat to document one of the most beloved hip-hop acts of all time, but poet Hanif Abdurraqib is up to the task. His lyrical tribute to A Tribe Called Quest delves deep into the heart and soul of the band with the perfect blend of history, biography, and intricate self-reflection. He also brilliantly captures how Q-Tip, Ali, Jarobi, and the late great Phife Dawg weren’t just musical innovators but obsessive nerds geeking out on doing what they loved. Not just a love letter to Tribe, it’s a love letter to fans and fandom itself."
Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Go Ahead in the Rain

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A Beautiful Tribute to ATCQ

This is by far one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read, across all literary genres. The lessons of love, loss, and life that are interwoven into this beautifully told story transcend ATCQ and hip hop. It is a poetic tribute to friendship and and remaining true to one’s self in an ever-changing world.

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Pronunciation errors

Great story, good reading. In the future, especially when dealing with popular culture, all names and cultural references should be cross-checked for pronunciation before reading. It is unforgivable to pronounce the God MC, Rakim (rah-kim) as rah-keem, and the Fugees (foo-jeez) as fyoo-jeez. It takes you out of the storytelling, as if the reader isn’t knowledgeable.

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Someone please help the narrator...

How do we end up with a narrator who doesn’t know how to pronounce the names of the artists in the book? These aren’t the obscure names of long-dead artists in some forgotten language. Hit up YouTube or ask somebody who actually listens to hip-hop.

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Not your typical music bio

I’m not a big band biography guy, with few exceptions. I loved the fact that the author is a poet, not your typical music journalist. That perspective lent the book a personal quality I appreciated. He weaves the history of the group, the cultural context of the time and his own personal relationship to the music into a compelling narrative.

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Beautifully written

Hanif’s ode to a Tribe Called Quest is deep, touching, educational and all around magnificent.

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deeper appreciation for music you've loved for a long time. If you're a hip-hop fan, you'll find something to enjoy.

I didn't have expectations for this book. I learned about Tribe in the context of broader history and opinions. There wasn't anything I didn't like here. the references expanded beyond the scope I imagined for the work and pointed me in a few new directions. the personal anecdotes grounded this for me in a way that only my favorite authors know how to do.

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Great book!!! 'Meh' on the narration (sadly)

Incredible and beautiful recounting of a love for hip hop and for the phenomenal rap group that is A Tribe Called Quest. The narration (almost) killed it though. And not 'killed' in a good way. Next time hire someone who knows how to pronounce Eric B and RAH-kim and The Fugees correctly. Just being black doesn't qualify you to narrate a book on great hip hop.

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Amazing book, somewhat detached narration

This book is interesting, personal, and also incredibly well researched on the history of various hip hop groups and various points in rap history. The book is not just the history of ATCQ, but contextualizes how they came together and created their work. Abdurraqib is a huge music geek and it really shines through in his writing.

The narration is good, very clear, but the performer (not the author) seems detached from the music. He pronounces some names wrong, and seems like he hasn't listened to some of the music quoted in the book. It would've been really cool to have the author doing the narration -- to hear a little more passion in the material -- but this narrator was ok.

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13 people found this helpful

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Outstanding

This book is a love letter to Tribe. Very well written and thoughtful. I actually knew the author when he was in high school. I worked with his older brother, who was also a big Tribe fan- we argued about The Love Movement album when it was released (I liked it).

This is written with a great prose. I found out Hanif was writing because we had anticipated article about him in our local paper. He's been winning awards for a good reason. If you like hiphop, check this one out.

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Beautiful narration, beautiful words

Not only did I learn all about A TCQ and the history of hip hop; I also enjoyed the incredibly thoughtful and beautiful reflections on cultural history (including but not limited to music), growing up a sibling, nostalgia for the 90s and for childhood/formative years, recent politics, and much more. Beautiful writing, absolutely wonderful narration.

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10 people found this helpful