This book investigates how contemporary rap music constructs identities that exist outside the traditional, neoliberal definitions of humanity. Justin Adams Burton, an associate professor of music, utilizes a framework rooted in critical race theory and queer theory to analyze how artists challenge the capitalist, white-centric, and heteronormative standards of modern existence. By examining the sonic and lyrical choices of various hip-hop artists, the author argues that these musicians imagine alternative, more inclusive ways of being human.

Scholars in musicology and cultural studies recognize this text as a significant contribution to the intersection of sound studies and posthumanist theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of critical theory to fully engage with the author's arguments.