Friday April 24 * 7pm * Free / donations

Join us for a book event with Austin McCoy in conversation with Dr. Peggy Lee about his new book, Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age: The Music, Culture, and World De La Soul Made

About the Book: Music artists and trends come and go, but every once in a while, a moment arrives that genuinely changes everything. In 1988, De La Soul, three young men from Amityville, Long Island, did exactly that. Their always innovative work pulled inspiration from artists of the past and popularized cutting-edge music sampling techniques to blend jazz, R&B, and rap as they created a sound unlike any the world had heard before.

But the De La Soul experience didn’t end there. These weren’t just musicians—they were game-changers in so many ways. From the way they dressed, to the words they spoke, to the day-glo colors of their breakout 3 Feet and Rising, De La Soul rejected convention, refused to be talked back into the box, and left the door open for everyone behind them.

Now, in Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age, West Virginia University history professor Austin McCoy explores how De La Soul not only defined a new era of hip-hop, but also American and Black culture at the same time. Through his eyes, ears, and well-studied recall of ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s America, McCoy takes us on a journey through the world this innovative musical act made.

Austin McCoy is an assistant professor of U.S. and African American History at West Virginia University. He is the author of Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age: The Music, Culture, and World De La Soul Made. In addition to hip hop culture, Austin’s research also focuses on labor, social movements, and activism. His writings about politics and culture has appeared in The Washington Post, CNN, and The Baffler.

Dr. Peggy Kyoungwon Lee is Assistant Professor of English at Georgetown University. She is a scholar and creative writer specializing in literature, performance, and sound and musical cultures.