One for the Books: Rapbrary 1 Year Celebration

The Poetry Foundation hosts a birthday celebration for the Rapbrary, Chicago’s one-of-a-kind library dedicated to preserving rap and hip-hop as vital literary art forms. Founder, rapper, and librarian Roy Kinsey curates an evening of music and spoken word, featuring acclaimed Chicago artists Mister Wallace, J Bambii, Darius Caffey, and Mason Pippenger with the inaugural Rapbrary Awards—honoring the words, work, and people that keep our stories alive.

This event is part of the Poetry Foundation’s fall 2025 season, Facing Life.

Additional Information

• All Poetry Foundation events are completely free of charge and open to the public.
• Advanced registration is encouraged.
• The performance space is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible.
• The program will feature CART captioning and ASL interpretation.
• For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Poetry Foundation, 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, United States