Book Review: You Are Ketchup

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Manhattan Book Review.

DC Music Legend Kokayi

The commodification of Black culture in the music industry has created a marketplace that prioritizes branding over talent. DC hip-hop legend Kokayi has sustained a music career for decades by being open to innovation, honoring mutually respectful relationships, and preserving reverence for his original musical influences. These are among the insights Kokayi shares with up-and-coming creatives in his autobiography You are Ketchup. Kokayi offers a candid and wide-eyed look at the industry and uses the metaphor of the popular, mass-produced condiment to drive a point about defining your flavor and differentiating one’s art from others

Hip-hop is among my generation’s significant contributions to music. Black artists invented the genre, evolving influences from jazz, go-go, funk, soul, R&B, and other Black musical innovations. Grammy-nominated Kokayi shares experiences and observations of the hip-hop industry from the lens of a musician who chose to curate his unique sound amid the pressure of creating marketable music. This book is a must-read for any creative or hip-hop enthusiast who wants an honest account of what it took to be an independent artist before the age of Internet sensations and social media influencers. Kokayi is the real deal, and his staying power in an often-fickle, the youth-oriented industry is a testament to his ability to remain relevant and keep the beats fresh.

Buy from Capital Books

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...

A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga

The modern practice of yoga in Western culture is often criticized for disconnecting from its cultural, historical, and spiritual roots. In many studios and gyms, yoga is reduced to a fitness routine—focused on stretching rather than its original purpose of enlightening the mind. In "A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga," celebrated practitioner Nikita Desai reconnects readers with yoga’s ancient Indian origins. Drawing on her Indian heritage, Desai explores the deeper meanings behind yoga’s forms, postures, and intentions, offering a rich historical and philosophical context for those seeking a more authentic practice. Desai shares her personal journey of reclaiming yoga’s essence, inviting readers to do the same by integrating cultural awareness into their practice. Her tone is welcoming and nonjudgmental, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Although I do not practice yoga, my meditation roots lie in Zen Buddhism. Through conversations with prac...

Wash

Ebony Stewart’s "Wash" is a powerful, unflinching poetry collection that draws the reader into a world of raw emotion, deep introspection, and lyrical brilliance. As I read through the poems, I found myself captivated by Stewart’s honest reflections on identity, love, loss, and healing. Her voice is unapologetically bold, revealing the complexities of being a Black womxn navigating relationships, societal expectations, and hard-fought victories toward self-worth. Yet, her themes are universal, resonating with anyone who has grappled with their own identity and relationships. What struck me most was Stewart’s emotional transparency: each poem feels like a cleansing, a shedding of shame, doubt, and grief, revealing the triumph of knowing one’s value in a world that often seeks to diminish it. Stewart doesn’t shy away from exploring the pain of extractive love or the vulnerability of desire, but she also leaves room for empowerment and resilience. As a celebrated spoken word ...

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