By: Tim Carmody

Tim Carmody on Afrika Bambaataa’s “Jazzy Sensation” (1981)

By: Andrew Hultkrans

Andrew Hultkrans on Treacherous Three’s “New Rap Language” (1980)

By: David Abrams

David Abrams on Blondie’s “Rapture” (1980)

By: Adam McGovern

Adam McGovern on The Furious 5’s “Freedom” (1980)

By: Phil Dyess-Nugent

Phil Dyess-Nugent on Funky 4 + 1’s “That’s the Joint” (1980)

By: Paul Devlin

Paul Devlin on Jimmy Spicer’s “The Adventures of Super Rhyme” (1980)

By: DJ Frane

DJ Frane on Blowfly’s “The Incredible Fulk” (1980)

By: Werner Von Wallenrod

Werner Von Wallenrod on Kurtis Blow’s “Rappin’ Blow” (1979)

By: Dallas Penn

Dallas Penn on Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1979)

By: Lucy Sante

Luc Sante on Spoonie Gee’s “Spoonin’ Rap” (1979)

By: HILOBROW

Kicking off this summer’s ENTHUSIASM series!

By: Joshua Glenn

His pet lobster was guerrilla street theater

By: William Nericcio

The monkey grammarian plagued by conjunctions and disjunctions.

By: Matthew Battles

He appealed to the bright canoe.

By: William Nericcio

The Cuban writer who was the toast of 1960s-70s Paris.