Listen in as author Sujatha Fernandes discusses her new book, Close to the Edge: In Search of the Global Hip-Hop Generation. Fernandes and a panel of guests talk about the global effect of hip-hop across three decades as well as its personal influence on her life.

Sujatha Fernandes is an academic, writer, and musician. She has written several books and articles about black popular culture, global hip hop, and social movements, and her work has been published in The New York Times, The Nation, The Huffington Post, and Colorlines. Between 1995 and 2008, she has lived, performed, and executed field research on hip hop in Chicago, Sydney, Havana, and Caracas. Close to the Edge is based on her encounters with these hip hop communities around the globe. Fernandes currently teaches sociology at the City University of New York.

Jesse De La Pena is a veteran DJ and music curator for Vocalo.org, 89.5 FM. He is the creator of Chicago’s legendary hip-hop night at the Blue Groove Lounge and cofounder of the Grammy-nominated acid jazz band Liquid Soul.

Angela “Ang13 (13)” Zone is a hip-hop legend. B-girl, graffiti writer, emcee, and producer, The Source magazine named her one of the underground’s “best kept secrets.” Her solo EP “Phat as Yo’ Mama” sold 7,000 copies in one month.

Mike Treese is an emcee, DJ, and producer in the underground group MAss hYsteRIA. He performs frequently in Chicago and has taught hip-hop classes to Chicago public high school students.

Recorded Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Stop Smiling Storefront.