Fuel the Rapbrary Mission with Roy Kinsey

Hi, My name is Roy Kinsey and I am a rapper and librarian from Chicago Illinois. I've started a non- profit organization called the RAPBRARY and our mission is to preserve rap as a literary art form, as well as operating as a book sanctuary dedicated to keeping banned and challenged books safe, and accessible.

My plan to do this is to build and operate this special library in the neighborhood where I was raised, on the West Side of Chicago.

Through a robust collection of literature, as well as regular events, programs, and workshops, I plan for this literary space to be a place where people can gather to access information that assists them in building their highest quality of life while building community.

Through regular performances, author events, book discussions, and coffee served in our cafe, we understand RAPBRARY as a space for consciousness raising.

The funds raised through the GoFundMe fundraiser will be used to buy the building that houses the library space and production house, contractors, and construction, as well as to develop and maintain the new library collection filled with the most essential titles to any collection, production equipment for a built in studio where podcasts and songs will be created, and all opening and operating costs.

My hope is for many more young artists to utilize Rapbrary as a place to understand literacy as a tool for consciousness raising. Rapbrary will be a place where young artists will come to develop and nurture their identities and voices, being in a safe environment surrounded by examples of artists who have done it before them, despite their obstacles. In this performance, I plan to be the first example, an alumni of Rapbrary and hope to get across how literacy can be used strategically for a self managed life, and not just for the subordination of people.

It has been my dream to create a physical space called Rapbrary and I want every person who enters to understand the power of my vision for the Rapbrary. For more background, I imagine Rapbrary as a Special + Curated Library, Research Center and Performing Arts space dedicated to the preservation of Rap as one of the most important art forms in American History.

I envision Rapbrary as a Book Sanctuary for challenged and banned books. I envision Rapbrary as "The Most Dangerous Place on Earth," not because it is located in Chicago, or is a repository for rap literature, art and artifacts, but because it holds and preserves radical ideas and keeps available books that are challenged across the nation, mainly important voices and experiences of our culture. Voices of marginalized groups. It seems these days that rap is a bad word, forgetting the storytelling, dismissing the fact that rap is poetry, and that all poetry has an author to say the very least.

My mission for Rapbrary has 4 goals: to preserve rap as a literary medium (through education and workshops, 2.) to create a space for young artists to access that support, develop and nurture their identities and voices as storytellers, rappers, singer/songwriters, poets, and visual artists, 3.) to develop and maintain a collection of library materials curated around themes of black music, sexuality, feminism, women and queer studies, black and African spirituality, psychology, wellness, and economics to name a few, all while keeping endangered stories safe, and 4.) to help as many young people/artists to build and design the highest quality of life for themselves.

A little about Roy:

Roy Kinsey is an anomaly when it comes to tradition in his respective industries. Where being a black, queer-identified, rapper, and librarian may be an intimidating choice for some, Roy Kinsey’s non-conformist ideology has informed his poignant releases, BLACKIE: A Story by Roy Kinsey, Kinsey: A Memoir, and most recently 3 RINGS. KINSEY: A Memoir, and Blackie: A Story by Roy Kinsey, capture the darkness of his shadow work, as sinister, yet sincere lyrics provide a potent musical performance by Kinsey. “Kinsey’s observations are strong on ‘Memoir,’; shaped by early traumas that threatened to debilitate his belief in himself as well as the abilities of his family. His music is the manifestation of a black queer man, coming of age in Chicago.” - Leor Galil Chicago Reader.

Gracing the the cover of prominent publications like Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, Billboard, LA Times, NPR, WBEZ’s Vocalo, and WGCI to name a few, this coverage proves that Kinsey’s goal to preserve rap as a literary art form resonates. His contributions are offerings to the cannon of black queer literature, and hip hop.

Kinsey’s visual for his record BSAYF, exploring black queer identity, friendship and spirituality, premiered at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Harold Washington Cultural Center and the Du sable Museum. Kinsey has shared his lyrics on the stages of the legendary Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Silver Room Block Party, Pride at the Park in Grant Park, First Avenue in Minnesota, Thalia Hall, Sleeping Village, Soho House, Empty Bottle, and House of Blues.

His professional development in librarianship has fueled his desire for self-examination, reporting his findings, in rhyme. He believes his creative works touch the hearts of many because it comes from the heart.

The Rapbrarian Documentary - First Look