Marcus Reeves

Marcus Reeves is a cultural critic, journalist, and author who has chronicled the intersection of hip-hop music, Black youth culture, and American politics for more than two decades. Reeves began his career as a freelance writer for The Source, a prominent hip-hop magazine, and went on to contribute to publications including The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Playboy, The Village Voice, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Crisis, among others. He also served as an editor at The Source.

Reeves is the author of "Somebody Scream! Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power," a work of music criticism and cultural history. The book examines ten influential rap artists, from Run-DMC to Eminem, placing their music and celebrity within a broader socio-political context. It explores hip-hop's evolution from a New York-based musical form to a commercial music movement and a unifying expression for a post-Black Power generation. The book was nominated for a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and has been recognized for its analysis of hip-hop culture and its impact on American society.

Reeves has contributed essays to books such as "Souls of My Brothers," "Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey," and "Vibe's History of Hip Hop." He has worked as a digital content producer for BET.com and VH1.com, published the urban literary journal Tellspin, and hosted and produced a talk and mix radio show on WBAI 99.5 FM. Reeves has appeared in documentaries including "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World," "Unsung: Big Daddy Kane," and "Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D."

His second book, "Bronze Shields: A Black Police Organization's Fight for Equality and Justice in Newark, NJ," is an oral history of an African American police organization formed to address discriminatory practices within the Newark Police Department. The book details the organization's decades-long pursuit of equality, justice, and community service, set against the backdrop of Newark's history and significant events that shaped the city.

Reeves teaches writing and entertainment journalism at New York University and offers instruction in interviews and profiles at NYU SPS in the Center for Applied Liberal Arts. As a keynote speaker, Reeves addresses topics such as the rise of rap music following the Black Power and Civil Rights movements, hip-hop activism, its connection to Black Lives Matter, and the influence of technology and hip-hop on American pop culture. He continues to research and write about hip-hop history, exploring its role in shaping contemporary American culture.