March 8, 2025 / 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Villa Albertine Resident Artist Talk

with Walid Hajar Rachedi

Special Event
Talk

Join in welcoming back Villa Albertine Atlanta as they kick off the Villa’s 2025 season of residencies with this event featuring writer and publisher Walid Hajar Rachedi!

"Since its beginnings, rap has continuously invoked literature. Whether it’s through claimed lineage, tribute, or a strong nod, the words of so-called legitimate culture permeate the works of all generations of rappers. While the influence of literature on rap is often discussed, the reverse is less common. Confined to the role of counter-culture, or even ‘sub-culture,’ relegated to the margins of literary studies, rap, however, inspires the new French literary scene: many writers grew up with this music, cite rap albums among their major references, and have drawn inspiration from it to approach language and the world in their first manuscripts. How does this influence manifest? What bridges are formed between these two art forms? What does it reveal about the impact of rap on literature and culture?" (Walid Hajar Rachedi)

Bios

Walid Hajar Rachedi

Walid Hajar Rachedi is a French author and publisher currently in residency in Atlanta with Villa Albertine, exploring identity, immigration, and societal fractures through his project What’s Left of the American Dream. Born in France in 1981 to Algerian parents, he has lived in Latin America and the U.S. His debut novel, Qu’est-ce que j’irais faire au paradis?, was a finalist for the Goncourt Prize in 2022, and his second novel, Nos destins sont liés (Emmanuelle Collas, 2023), was deeply influenced by rap, one of his foundational inspirations. He is also the co-founder of Frictions, a renowned media platform known for long-form investigative storytelling and podcasts on global social issues.


Upcoming Program Events

View All Programs
April 19 / 6:00pm Art Detour

Let Light Perpetual

Film Screening | Two showings: 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM

Free

Featured Film: Let Light Perpetual (2023) By Micah and Whitney Stansell Written by John Harkey Musical Score by Blake Williams

April 25 / 6:00pm Contemporary Talks

Artist Talk

Kristan Woolford and Greg Zinman

Free

Join us for an engaging artist talk with Kristan Woolford, the visionary behind "Free the Land" (2023). This striking HD video confronts gentrification, historical displacement, and the fight against colonization, alongside curator Greg Zinman.

April 25 / 3:00pm Special Event

Pop-Up Record Store

With Stokely's Records

Free

Join us Saturday, April 26, from 12 pm- 5 pm for an exclusive pop- up record store with Stokely’s Records! Swing by, put a record on, and browse the collection for sale, curated by Le'Shawn Taylor.

Support Atlanta Contemporary

Make a gift to help keep Atlanta Contemporary free, safe, and open to all.

Donate Today Become A Member
Imported Layers Created with Sketch.

We encourage you to share your images using #atlantacontemporary. Read our full photography policy.