Curved bookshelves in modern library with bright lighting.

rapbrary

shelf essentials

rapbrary trucker

$30

White t-shirt with "Sorry We're Open" and "Rap & Libraries" printed in bold letters, displayed against a dark, bookshelf background.

sorry we’re open tee

$40

A "Rap & Libraries" cap on top of books including "The Jungle" by Sinclair, placed on a wooden table with a blurred bookshelf background.

rap & libraries trucker

$30

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“Where Rap Meets the Page.”

Illustration of a person with purple skin tones reading a book, surrounded by floating objects including books, a microphone, and abstract elements, against a yellow background.

Rapbrarian on Wgn news

Meet the ‘Rap-brarian:’ Chicago librarian by day, rapper by night

Double exposure of a man in a cowboy hat and library shelves.

Rapbrary on wbez chicago

A Chicago rapper started a ‘Rapbrary’ to honor hip-hop as a literary art form

MC and public librarian Roy Kinsey is spreading the word about his West Side library via events, a Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards performance and a documentary.

Person in a shiny silver outfit holding a microphone, standing near a wooden bookshelf filled with books. A black table with a water bottle and equipment is on the left. A spotlight on the floor illuminates the scene.

rapbrary on vocalo

Reading and rap have been the loves of Roy Kinsey’s life for as long as he can remember.

rapbrary’s
mission

Rapbrary believes in the power of storytelling to transform lives, build empathy, and create community. Our mission is to understand and preserve rap and hip-hop as culturally significant literary art forms while advocating for literacy, especially in underserved communities. We serve as a book sanctuary keeping banned and challenged books safe and accessible. Our goal is to create spaces where diverse voices are celebrated and where the stories of marginalized communities can be shared, explored, and embraced.

Learn more