Thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the audiobook ARC!

Hanif Abdurraqib writes on a variety of topics, including music, art, movies, sports, culture, and highlights the way that the implicit racism of our society changes the experience for a Black man such as himself. Very enlightening and interesting essays.

Thank you for this copy of the audiobook! I was thrilled that this was recorded as an audiobook, and I was amazed by the writing and storytelling. There are so many powerful essays about music and life that it would be hard to summarize this book or even pick a favorite... but I cried to a story about Fall Out Boy and this felt therapeutic.

Hanif is one of the best writers and I am always amazed at his brilliance in writing what it feels like to be alive, to hurt, but to always want to be here.

This was great. No one writes about music and culture the way Hanif Abdurraqib does. You can tell he is a poet in the best way, as in his writing is moving and rich, but not in an obscure way that makes his writing hard to understand. Abdurraqib narrated this audiobook (it was just released as an audiobook but the book was originally published 5+ years ago I think) and his narration is *chef's kiss* amazing. He reads it like a poet, I'm not totally sure I can exain why his narration is so great. But one thing I did notice was his slowing down and speeding up at certain parts, enhancing the feelings behind the essay. Also, the content was great. It's a book of cultural commentary, social criticism, and a lot of it centered around music and some other bits of pop culture. Every essay is good, as always some were more moving than others, but they all were thoughtful and incisive in some way. Also I want to say this wasn't exactly written for me, plenty of the music/musician references weren't aimed at me, my tastes, experiences, etc. and I still think this book was great. It was moving, incisive, thoughtful, and felt very authentic. Highly recommend!!

The fifth anniversary of this included a new introduction and afterword and some chapter intros written this year, and I was so captivated by the audiobook. He touches on so many topics with insight and depth, talking about our culture, love, loss, pop culture and music. I aspire to love something like Hanif Abdurraqib loves music. Loved this!

This book genuinely changed my life. Abdurraqib's meditations on grief and love are so poignant and moving. I learned so much about myself reading this book. It's like good therapy. Cannot recommend this more highly.

I’m still processing this incredible work of essays and poems and don’t know what to say but just read it!
The audio was spectacular! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early listen to the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” in exchange for an honest review. I had intended to listen to the audiobook while getting a few things done, but I found myself being unable to multitask. I was captivating by both the prose and the internal workings of Abdurraqib’s mind. I’ve had a paper copy of this collection for awhile now but hadn’t sat down to it yet. I’m so glad I waited because I appreciate the dimension that was added to my experience by listening to Abdurraqib read his work. I recommend giving it a listen!

some of these essays are still just as relevant as they were 5/6 years ago and some are already dated. abdurraqib acknowledged this in the notes section of the audiobook and i enjoyed getting these additional tidbits of information as well as the introduction by eve l. ewing and the afterword by jason reynolds with this 2022 audiobook production provided by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. thanks to netgalley and the publisher, i loved listening to this narrated by the author!

🎶 📖 ARC Review🎵📖
They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us
By Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
5th year anniversary edition coming out November 15th

They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us is an essay collection. What is this book about? It’s about music. It’s about the author’s experience as a black man.
It’s about his experiences in relationships. It’s about politics. It’s about all of these things and none of these things. It just is and it’s so incredibly well told.

I geeked out on the chapters about My Chemical Romance and had to listen to the Black Parade on repeat afterwards.
Not an emo girl like me? Prince, Carley Rae Jepsen, and Johnny Cash are mentioned as well as others.

May I suggest adding this for your nonfiction November goals. 😉

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audiobook was incredible but I’m sure it would be enjoyable in any format.

Thanks to Netgalley for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic collection of stories from a talented writer. The forward is amazing, and I particularly loved the connections made with Chance the Rapper's latest album review and larger societal issues. Highly recommend for any music lover!

God do I love it when the author narrates their novel. It felt so personal and like I was one of his buddies during the intermissions. In those intermissions he spoke freely and didn’t try to sound perfect. It felt like we were standing in front of one another.
I love the range of artists he discusses. He talks about old school rappers who grew up in the hood and the Migos who grew up in the suburbs. He talks about the praise white rappers (Eminem & Macklemore) receive for fitting a particular mold of defiance. He talks about what it’s like growing up both Black and Muslim. He discusses the little joys he gets out of concerts and what certain artists meant to him during a specific life stage. I enjoyed his analysis of these artists concerts. It taught me that there is a lot to learn from the way an artist performs.

They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib is an essay compilation that recounts the ways in which music has shaped and been intwined through Abdurraqib's life. In the wake of the nightclub attacks in Paris, he recalls how he sought refuge as a teenager in music, at shows, and wonders whether the next generation of young Muslims will not be afforded that opportunity now. While discussing the everyday threat to the lives of black Americans, Abdurraqib recounts the first time he was ordered to the ground by police officers: for attempting to enter his own car.

The writing in this novel is so beautiful and poetic. I constantly found myself highlighting numerous passages that resonated with me. It was also very apparent to the reader Abdurraqib's vulnerability and passion towards his family, music, and identity. I highly recommend this book and particularly the audiobook version of this novel narrated by the author.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK, or LISTEN TO IT which is even better. Hanif Abdurraqib has put his heart and soul into these essays, making this book an instant hit for readers like me who crave honesty and emotions. This collection of essays is rich in American music, African American culture, and the grief of an entire suppressed race. The writing makes you feel so many emotions at the same - anger and joy, and especially despair and hope. Listening to Abdurraqib narrate his experiences felt so pure. I know I should stop because I'm overdoing adjectives, but I'm feeling a cyclone of emotions whirling inside me. Please don't let my inability to express my love for this book overshadow this review, and for heaven's sake, grab this audiobook.

Thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.
Publication Date: November 15th, 2022.

TW: Racism, Injustice, Death, Grief, and Heartbreak.