Saul Williams is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in the 1998 film Slam and Holler If Ya Hear Me, a Broadway musical featuring music by Tupac Shakur. As a writer, Williams has been published in The New York Times, Esquire, and SPIN. As a musician, Williams has released four studio albums, two of which were produced by Rick Rubin and Trent Reznor. Called "the poet laureate of hip-hop," Williams' latest collection of poetry is titled US (a.).
The "poet laureate of hip-hop" is troubled by society's rising reverence for ignorance and prestige. This is a stark departure from pop culture and music from the past, which laid more focus on rooting for the...