>> lil wayne is an artist who brings in a strange way i'd compare to someone like samuel taylor a romantic poet who was fond of his substances for inpicte ration, but also a real wordshut. lil wayne brings almost a intergalactic perspective. in the '90s, it was east coast, west coast. lil wayne comes on the scene and says i'm a marsian. it expands the temples of i art form. >> does rap need to be defended? >> you know, that was a qstion i dealt witho much many thinng about how to phrase my book. i think wrap -- rap is a reflection of our cull myrrh. in some ways what we might criticize pro fanty is the very thing we wld criticize in other lives. in our films and literature even. so i guess i try not to be an apoll gist. i try to say this is what it is. the good, the bad, and everything in between. here's how we can talk aut and understand it and here's how you as a listener or reader can make yourudgment upon its merits. >> who's your favorite rapper? >> so many. i guess jay z. he embodies the best and showing w it c emerge into a modern age. it's an art form that's entering its middle age