an anthology of dope rhymes and contemporary literature.

150 pages
Cover photography: Brian Freeman (@TheRealBFree)

reviews:
“…stays true to his music by making MCs suffer through his advanced wordplay.”

– The Source Magazine



“Real T@lk's words are familiar like the great poets of the past - Brooks, Hughes & Angelou, but refreshing like the 808s in hip-hop. He covers a range of topics - love, social issues & more from his unique perspective in a way that forces you to reflect on your own experiences. He is truly a poet of the people!”

– Donnie Smith

Executive Director of Donda’s House Inc.



“His work is unique, profound, and very contemporary.”

– Preston Jackson

Professor Emeritus, the Art Institute of Chicago



“Jedi rap shit at its finest.”

– Big Boi, OutKast



“True words of wisdom that cut deep into hearts. Words that open minds. Words of power!”

– Apollonia



“Real T@lk opens doors for the ancestors, women and men who need to heal their wounded perceptions about love, relationships and family...he provides a requiem for love for those who confuse it for lust, disrespect and bastardized nouns.”

– Ayesha Jaco

co-founder/Executive Director of The Lupe Fiasco Foundation



“Real T@lk teaches us pro verbs to escape these death sentences.”

–Ray Murray

co-founder, Organized Noize Productions



“Real T@lk has magic in his words. He’s a beast with the wordplay. The perspective of his stories is unique, powerful, and life-changing.”

– J. Ivy

award-winning poet and author



“If you’ve ever seen him on stage, you know how he makes you want to see his words on the page. In these pages, you’ll be directed right back to the stage, wanting to hear them again. It’s a window into the work space of lyrical mastery.

This work is the epitome of Real T@lk.”

– A.D. Carson, PhD

emcee, educator, and author of COLD and The City

“Grossly underrated, remains one of the sickest lyricists repping Chicago.

You snooze, you lose.”

– GY312, Genius.com



“I’ve honestly witnessed the growth of this dude’s amazing career and

I’m proud to say he’s one of the most gifted artists to ever come out of Chicago.”

– Lil Rel Howery,

comedian, actor and writer



“An elite wordsmith. You’d be hard–pressed to find an emcee with his precision and creativity when it comes to writing and delivery.”

– K. Love

national spoken word artist, founder of L.Y.R.I.C. Mentoring

Includes unlimited streaming of The Talented Tenth 8.0 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.