SU hosts Baba Brinkman’s ‘The Rap Canterbury Tales’ Nov. 29

Sunday, November 19, 2006, By News Staff

SU hosts Baba Brinkman’s ‘The Rap Canterbury Tales’ Nov. 29November 19, 2006Jaime Winne Alvarezjlwinne@syr.edu

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University is sponsoring a performance of “The Rap Canterbury Tales” by Baba Brinkman on Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Heroy Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public. Parking is available in SU pay lots. A reception will follow.

“The Rap Canterbury Tales” resurrects English poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th century masterpiece “The Canterbury Tales” in the form of a lyrical battle. The Pardoner, The Miller, The Wife of Bath and Chaucer himself all compete for the storytelling crown. The presentation includes a comparison of Chaucer’s narrative techniques and poetic form with the narrative techniques and practices of contemporary hip-hop culture. Brinkman’s version is set in the 21st century urban United States, as a group of rappers battle for the best rap while touring.

Brinkman began his rap career at age 19, free styling and writing songs in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada. During his development as a rapper, he also completed a bachelor’s degree at Simon Fraser University and master’s degree in Medieval and Renaissance English literature at the University of Victoria. His thesis drew parallels between the worlds of rap music and literary poetry.

In summer 2004, Brinkman took “The Rap Canterbury Tales” on a tour of seven cities around the world, including Prague, Montreal, Edinburgh and San Francisco. He completed the album version in fall 2004. In spring 2005, Cambridge University sponsored a school tour across England, where Brinkman performed for more than 1,600 students in more than 30 schools. Since 2004, he has toured “The Rap Canterbury Tales” in Australia and the United Kingdom. “The Rap Canterbury Tales” has also been published as an illustrated paperback by Vancouver’s Talon Books.

For more information, contact Professor Amanda Eubanks Winkler at 443-4584 or awinkler@syr.edu.