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Author and former Mad
Rhythms magazine publisher, Yasmin Shiraz is embarking on a
series of book talks on college campuses and bookstores
discussing the behind-the-scenes politics of hip hop culture.
Drawing on her twelve years involved in the entertainment
industry as publisher, marketing consultant, journalist, and
researcher, Shiraz has crafted two breakout novels that drip of
realism, dramatic storytelling and backstage incidents that you
won't see on television.
Working directly with record labels such as Interscope,
Universal Music Group and Def Jam Records, Shiraz was often
negotiating promotional opportunities and creating publicity
awareness for hip hop artists. Within these circumstances, in
their precarious cutthroat glory, Shiraz received experiences
that became the foundation of her novels, Exclusive (Rolling
Hills Press, 2005) and Privacy (Rolling Hills Press, 2006.)
Exclusive kicks off with journalist Tisha Ariel Nikkole going
backstage to meet the hottest rapper of the moment, Shout. As
their story is told, Yasmin Shiraz's personal testimonies are
intertwined in the backdrop of this fictional setting. It was
important for Shiraz to include real life in the novel because
she felt "the hip hop that we see on TV--the images are staged.
What the artists, the record labels are doing behind the camera
and in the boardroom, that's the real story."
"The Politics of Hip Hop Culture" tour will discuss sexism,
capitalism, and racism as it relates to the promotion of hip hop
culture, music and the like. In addition, Shiraz will expound on
some of the issues that were raised in the best selling book,
Video Vixen by Karrine Stephens. Though Yasmin Shiraz's
experiences are often compared to that of Ms. Stephens, Shiraz
notes, "As an entertainment executive my experiences were
different because I had money, power and respect in ways that
the video vixen did not. That doesn't mean that I was treated
better, it means that our experiences differ but both of our
stories need to be told."
Yasmin Shiraz is the author
of three other books: The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A
Life of Courage, Determination & Self-Love (2004, Simon &
Schuster,) The Blueprint for My Girls in Love: 99 Rules for
Dating, Relationships & Intimacy (2005, Simon & Schuster,) and
The Blueprint Guide to Success & Motivation: Identify, Focus On
& Achieve Your Goals (2006, Herff Jones.) She runs her website
yasminshiraz.net and her blog, "yasminshiraz.blogspot.com"
which discusses hip hop culture and youth empowerment. She is
the former Publisher and Editor in Chief of Mad Rhythms
magazine. She is a graduate of Hampton University and Morehead
State University having her bachelor's and masters degrees in
Sociology. Yasmin resides in the Washington, DC area with her
family.
Tour Dates:
October 5, 2006, 7pm, Georgetown University,
Walsh 396, Washington, DC
October 6, 2006, 12pm, Borders, The Gallery Mall, Philadelphia,
PA
October 6, 2006, 4pm , Black & Noble Books, Philadelphia, PA
October 7, 2006, 2pm, Waldenbooks, Owings Mills Mall, Owings
Mills, MD
October 7, 2006, 5pm, Beyond the Pages, Owings Mills Mall,
Owings Mills, MD
October 21, 2006, 1pm, Waldenbooks, Regency Square Mall,
Richmond, VA
October 21, 2006, 4pm, Waldenbooks, VA Center Commons, Glen
Allen, VA
October 26, 2006, 6pm, Hampton University, Martin Luther King
Bldg, Hampton, VA
October 27, 2006, Waldenbooks, Military Circle Mall, Norfolk, VA
November 4, 2006, Waldenbooks, Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream,
NY
November 4, 2006, Borders, Kings Plaza Mall, Brooklyn, NY
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