The Passion of Christopher Pierznik

The Godfather of the Hip-Hop Magazine

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date May 3, 2021
2 Comments on The Godfather of the Hip-Hop Magazine

A one-on-one interview with Brian Nagata, the man behind RapZines

For us hip-hop superfans that came of age long before the internet and streaming era, we had to get our fix in other ways. Years before blogs and social media, we got our info from the scant TV programs that focused on the culture – Yo! MTV Raps; Urban Xpressions; Rap City – but most of our knowledge and insight came from publications.

The Source was the bible, but there were others. Only in these magazines could we get a regular diet of in-depth features, reviews, and previews of everything happening in and around the music.

No one appreciates that fact more than Brian Nagata, the founder, owner, and operator of Rapzines.

Tags Collecting, Hip-Hop, Magazines, Nostalgia, Rap

The Pierznik Monthly

The New Pierznik Monthly Newsletter [April 2021]

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date April 29, 2021
No Comments on The New Pierznik Monthly Newsletter [April 2021]

Click below to read my latest newsletter with my thoughts on the films, books, TV, music, and sports that I experienced this month. Be sure to subscribe so that you will receive it in your inbox each and every month!

Films Movies

#RestoreTheSnyderVerse

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an instant classic. It improbably exceeded the hype and continued to advance a beautiful, operatic, tragic epic story.

We need the sequels to see how it all ends.

Tags Batman v Superman, Classic, DC, DCEU, Films, Justice League, Movies, Pop Culture, Superman, Zack Snyder

Art Films Movies Reviews

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: “Release the Snyder Cut” Reviewed

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date March 1, 2021
No Comments on Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: “Release the Snyder Cut” Reviewed

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

For more than three years, the Snyder Cut was part-myth and part-fantasy.

Tags Batman, Batman v Superman, Books, DC, DCEU, Hollywood, Justice League, Man of Steel, Superman, Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder

Books Hip-Hop Music Rap Reviews

“The Motherlode” – A Beautiful, Undefinable History of Women in Hip-Hop

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date February 16, 2021
1 Comment on “The Motherlode” – A Beautiful, Undefinable History of Women in Hip-Hop

“Men write history, but women live it.”
Chloe Angyal

It’s true that history is written by the victors, but it’s also been predominately written by men. That is especially true in hip-hop. As the culture closes in on its fiftieth birthday, the contributions of women, whether behind the mic or behind the scenes, have been largely overlooked, marginalized, or outright ignored.

The Motherlode (Abrams, 2021) by Clover Hope could help begin to change that. A cogent and forceful entry in the ongoing need to give the ladies their due, it is a book that is undefinable, or at least not easily categorized, that also happens to be the definitive history of women in hip-hop.

Tags Book Reviews, Books, Foxy Brown, Hip-Hop, Lil Kim, Rap, XXL

Films Movies

“The Godfather Coda” – Better Than “Part III,” Which Was Better Than You Remember

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date February 12, 2021
No Comments on “The Godfather Coda” – Better Than “Part III,” Which Was Better Than You Remember

The Godfather Part II is not only my favorite film, but I would argue it is the finest film I have ever seen. It’s a perfect movie, from start to finish. No film could ever hope to succeed it.

So when I, one of the staunchest defenders of The Godfather Part III, heard that it would be getting a new edit, I was both curious and excited to see what Francis Ford Coppola did to restore – as much as he could thirty years later – his final film on Michael Corleone.