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Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)

Description:

Winner of the 2025 IASPM Book Prize in the category of English from the International Association for the Study of Popular Music

Where exactly does the South begin and end? Current maps are too rigid to account for the ways Black people have built the South while being simultaneously excluded from it. Drawing from the different ways Black artists in the 2-5-2 area code in North Carolina use "vibe" as a mode of knowing and communication, author Corey J. Miles illustrates how Black feeling and unfeeling offer entry points into the contemporary South that challenge static and monolithic notions of the region. Placing the local artists in conversation with other southern cultural creators such as 2 Chainz, Rod Wave, and Rapsody, these ethnographic narratives demonstrate that there are multiple Souths, with overlapping and distinct commitments to working through pain, sound, and belonging.

In
Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South, Miles narrates how southern Black sound, feeling, and being is constantly policed, surveilled, and criminalized. In doing so, he re-narrates the region as the "carceral South," to capture the ways people in the South and beyond can feel the emotional weight of the criminalization of Blackness. Pain music, a subgenre of trap music, is used to take the listener to moments of violence to allow them to hear the desires, anger, and silences that bind Black life in community. Through conceptions of ratchet, hood, and ghetto, Black artists turn away from respectable images and unmap the South. In trap music, they move the South to a space where multiple modes of being find respect and care.


Editorial Reviews

Review

Precise cultural commentary and the author’s deep personal connection to his subject lend power to this revealing study. ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Vibe is written as a song itself, which means it extends beyond the realm of higher academia. In fact, I argue that Vibe is a song that needs to be heard more by those outside of the ivory towers. -- Lauren Carpenter ― Southern Review of Books

The importance of this book cannot be understated. It should be required reading for any graduate program concerned about training socially conscious and methodologically sound scholars who endeavor to provide an authentic and fulsome accounting of any aspect of the social world: a uniquely sociological project that this book takes very seriously. -- Greg Wilson ―
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Vibe was described by one reviewer as ‘a rare and gorgeous book.’ Another wrote:
‘I’ve never read a book like this. Miles’s approach to ethnography, theory, and feeling is extraordinary.’ The book’s use of autoethnography was praised for its effectiveness: ‘Miles uses autoethnography to great effect . . . grounding complex theory in personal and cultural context.’ The theoretical dimension was likewise lauded: ‘Miles adopts and generates theoretical insights that are timely, resonant, and deeply rooted in cultural critique.’
Vibe powerfully combines rigorous scholarship with poetic expression, offering a landmark contribution to sound studies and Black cultural research.

2025 IASPM Book Prize Judges’ Comments

Vibe is an important exploration of the aesthetics of Black life and hip-hop in the rural American South. -- Dasan Ahanu, alumnus of the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellowship at Harvard University and cofounder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre

In a fresh and personable style, Corey J. Miles examines and theorizes trap music as a necessary emotional response to cyclical, racialized trauma.
Vibe is a refreshing and needed addition to the growing body of hip-hop scholarship on the contemporary American South. -- Regina N. Bradley, author of Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South

Vibe is a lesson on emotions, hip-hop, the Black South, and storytelling. A must-read. -- B. Brian Foster, author of I Don't Like the Blues: Race, Place, and the Backbeat of Black Life

About the Author

Corey J. Miles is assistant professor of sociology and Africana studies at Tulane University. His work has been published in The Routledge Handbook of Africana Criminologies and the Journal of Hip-Hop Studies.

Details:

Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)

Product ID: U149684890K
Condition: New

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Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

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Order today to get by 7-14 business days

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Imported From: United States

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Every product in the BOLO catalogue is sourced through our Verified Global Supply Network of verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

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Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bahrain. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the Bahrain will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in Bahrain are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

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Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)

Product ID: U149684890K
Condition: New
Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)-0
Type: Paperback

BHD1536

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of BHD 2. Free for orders above BHD 20.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

Every product in the BOLO catalogue is sourced through our Verified Global Supply Network of verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bahrain. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the Bahrain will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in Bahrain are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

Winner of the 2025 IASPM Book Prize in the category of English from the International Association for the Study of Popular Music

Where exactly does the South begin and end? Current maps are too rigid to account for the ways Black people have built the South while being simultaneously excluded from it. Drawing from the different ways Black artists in the 2-5-2 area code in North Carolina use "vibe" as a mode of knowing and communication, author Corey J. Miles illustrates how Black feeling and unfeeling offer entry points into the contemporary South that challenge static and monolithic notions of the region. Placing the local artists in conversation with other southern cultural creators such as 2 Chainz, Rod Wave, and Rapsody, these ethnographic narratives demonstrate that there are multiple Souths, with overlapping and distinct commitments to working through pain, sound, and belonging.

In
Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South, Miles narrates how southern Black sound, feeling, and being is constantly policed, surveilled, and criminalized. In doing so, he re-narrates the region as the "carceral South," to capture the ways people in the South and beyond can feel the emotional weight of the criminalization of Blackness. Pain music, a subgenre of trap music, is used to take the listener to moments of violence to allow them to hear the desires, anger, and silences that bind Black life in community. Through conceptions of ratchet, hood, and ghetto, Black artists turn away from respectable images and unmap the South. In trap music, they move the South to a space where multiple modes of being find respect and care.


Editorial Reviews

Review

Precise cultural commentary and the author’s deep personal connection to his subject lend power to this revealing study. ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Vibe is written as a song itself, which means it extends beyond the realm of higher academia. In fact, I argue that Vibe is a song that needs to be heard more by those outside of the ivory towers. -- Lauren Carpenter ― Southern Review of Books

The importance of this book cannot be understated. It should be required reading for any graduate program concerned about training socially conscious and methodologically sound scholars who endeavor to provide an authentic and fulsome accounting of any aspect of the social world: a uniquely sociological project that this book takes very seriously. -- Greg Wilson ―
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Vibe was described by one reviewer as ‘a rare and gorgeous book.’ Another wrote:
‘I’ve never read a book like this. Miles’s approach to ethnography, theory, and feeling is extraordinary.’ The book’s use of autoethnography was praised for its effectiveness: ‘Miles uses autoethnography to great effect . . . grounding complex theory in personal and cultural context.’ The theoretical dimension was likewise lauded: ‘Miles adopts and generates theoretical insights that are timely, resonant, and deeply rooted in cultural critique.’
Vibe powerfully combines rigorous scholarship with poetic expression, offering a landmark contribution to sound studies and Black cultural research.

2025 IASPM Book Prize Judges’ Comments

Vibe is an important exploration of the aesthetics of Black life and hip-hop in the rural American South. -- Dasan Ahanu, alumnus of the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellowship at Harvard University and cofounder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre

In a fresh and personable style, Corey J. Miles examines and theorizes trap music as a necessary emotional response to cyclical, racialized trauma.
Vibe is a refreshing and needed addition to the growing body of hip-hop scholarship on the contemporary American South. -- Regina N. Bradley, author of Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South

Vibe is a lesson on emotions, hip-hop, the Black South, and storytelling. A must-read. -- B. Brian Foster, author of I Don't Like the Blues: Race, Place, and the Backbeat of Black Life

About the Author

Corey J. Miles is assistant professor of sociology and Africana studies at Tulane University. His work has been published in The Routledge Handbook of Africana Criminologies and the Journal of Hip-Hop Studies.

Details:

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