Roy Kinsey: A Legacy Project (Court Theatre’s Black Power Series)

In partnership with the Court Theatre, the Poetry Foundation presents Chicago native, rapper and librarian, Roy Kinsey. In an intimate presentation at the Poetry Foundation, Kinsey will share about the Black storytellers essential to shaping his craft, the urgency of preserving Black literary culture through rap music, and his history.

Kinsey’s tenth studio album due fall 2024, A Westside Story: A Legacy Project, firmly focuses on growing up in an ever-changing Chicago. Part listening session, part performance, and part album discussion, the evening will give audience members a rare look behind the veil into Kinsey’s creative process.

This event is part of the Court Theatre’s Black Power Series, complementing the world premiere of Stokely: The Unfinished Revolutionat the Court Theatre. All events in the Black Power Series are free and open to the public.

ROY KINSEY is an anomaly when it comes to tradition in his respective industries. Where being a Black, queer-identified rapper and librarian may be an intimidating choice for some, Kinsey’s non-conformist ideology has informed his poignant releases, BLACKIE: A Story by Roy Kinsey and Kinsey: A Memoir. Most recently, 3 RINGS. KINSEY: A Memoir and Blackie: A Story by Roy Kinsey capture the darkness of his shadow work as sinister yet sincere lyrics provide a potent musical performance.

In-Person Attendance

Masks are strongly encouraged and available at check-in for those who would like to wear one. The Foundation reserves the right to update this policy if community levels of COVID-19 increase significantly. Read our full COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines.

Livestream Attendance

The livestream link will be shared with registered guests on the day of the event.

This event will include CART captioning and ASL interpretation. For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.