G’Ra Asim, assistant professor of English, will read from Boyz n the Void: a mixtape for my brother May 10 at Heavy Anchor. The event is sponsored by Left Bank Books and celebrates the paperback release of Asim’s 2021 book. A musician as well as a writer, Asim will be joined by his punk band babygotbacktalk, who will also perform a set at the release party. The band recently signed a record deal with Wiretap Records.
First released in 2021, Boyz N the Void is a reflection on masculinity, Blackness, punk music, and straight-edge culture that is equal parts music criticism and personal essay. Asim approaches these questions through the form of a mixtape, helping his brother navigate young adulthood through a carefully selected tracklist with an in-depth commentary that explores the question of what it means to be a Black creative intellectual.
“I’m truly thrilled to celebrate Boyz n the Void at Heavy Anchor and in partnership with Left Bank Books, a bookstore I grew up in,” said Asim. “Boyz n the Void is a testament to all the ways that literature and punk music have acted for me as essential equipment for living. An evening that combines punk and prose feels like a most fitting way to introduce the paperback edition to the WashU and greater St. Louis community.”
The release party will be hosted by Left Bank Books at the Heavy Anchor. More information can be found at Left Bank Books’ website.
