Description

Cruz talks about his Five Days of Bleeding, which was eventually published in 1995 by Fiction Collective 2. McCaffery asks him to compare his “new book” with the already published book, Straight Outta Compton, published in 1992. The title of the book in progress refers to a song. The next question is about rap music, blues, and jazz. Cruz talks about the history of these musical forms. McCaffery likens Cruz’s style to musical forms and talks about appropriating an establishment technology and turning it to other ends. Cruz talks about his relationship with music. McCaffery talks about the similarities between cyberpunk and rap music, and about sampling as a technique. McCaffery asks how Straight Outta Compton evolved. Cruz calls one character a “lyrical terrorist.” Cruz says, “I’m going to throw this music in your face” with his current work. McCaffery asks about allusions to music in Cruz’s work, such as to Muddy Waters. Cruz talks about “black voice” and “the diaspora.” McCaffery discusses rock music and traditionally black music and the criticisms of rap music, such as misogyny and promotion of violence. Cruz says that criticisms of rap music are often used to dismiss that musical form, and discusses its place in black culture. They discuss avant-pop as a “way to free yourself from the boundaries of pop culture." On the second side, the interview continues with a comparison of Ishmael Reed’s and Cruz’s work.