Rap Guide to Consciousness NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (143)
See it if You want a fun way to learn a lot about your brain and how it works. Fun and engaging and very accessible yet seemingly well researched.
Don't see it if You hated Schoolhouse Rock or anything fun that snuck some learning in on you when you weren’t looking. Read more
See it if you want to learn while the presenter raps - he does an admirable job of presenting a lot of information in a relaxed and fun style.
Don't see it if you cling to every word - it is impossible to get it all due to fluctuations of the background music and a slight Canadian accent.
See it if you want to see the Neil deGrasse Tyson of Canadian white rappers break down a highbrow topic into a relatable lesson on how the brain works
Don't see it if you want to turn your brain off (which Baba points out is not literally possible) & take in an easy show that doesn't require your attention Read more
See it if appreciate skill of rap, want to think while you're entertained, enjoyed HAMILTON, want 2 B conscious, like answering back. participation
Don't see it if dislike rap, Canadians, audio visuals, audience call outs, babies named Dillon, anything that rhymes with Dillon, don't want 2 B conscious
See it if Very entertaining rap songs, some of which have a bit of improv mixed in. Performer has audience shout things out/establishes great rapport
Don't see it if The "talkback" right before show ends could be trimmed/eliminated - he starts off with "how can I improve this show?"
See it if College seminar lecture on science's current understanding of consciousness via rap.Interesting thought experiments to illustrate his points
Don't see it if Science/facts annoy you. Dislike rap, esp. from a middle aged white guy. Read more
See it if you'd enjoy the world's only white Canadian who raps about science. Brinkman is one of a kind, and it's a lot to take in, but very cool!
Don't see it if you don't like rap or science, although this is relatively musical for rap, and what other theater piece teaches you about Bayesian logic??
See it if You have even a passing interest in: Philosophy, neurology, metaphysics, rap/hip-hop. You want a show where you can engage with artist.
Don't see it if You heavily dislike any audience participation. Dislike rap/hip-hop. Read more
Critic Reviews (12)
"Brinkman is the nasty neuropsychology guru you wish you'd studied with in college, teaching you more with a rap than you'd ever learn in a textbook...As intellectually stimulating as a rapped TED Talk...The content and theories presented do, in themselves, make 'Rap Guide' worth seeing; however, the artistry of the show also deserves to be highlighted...A delight for the intellectual...A delight for the rap junkie...A delight for stoners and for STEM fielders."
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"A novel blend of seemingly disparate elements in the arts, philosophy, and science, which holds widespread appeal for audiences of all interests and backgrounds who value talent, intelligence, and creativity. By my calculations, that should be pretty much everyone. Directed by Darren Lee Cole with a perfect balance of high physical energy and spot-on delivery...An ingenious look at the hard problem, filled with information and wit, and set to a sensational hip-hop score."
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"Baba Brinkman gives a new meaning to the term pop science. He attempts to explain some of the most difficult issues confronting scientists today to laymen via the medium of rap music...His intelligence is fearsome as demonstrated by a freestyle rap...using concepts thrown in by audience members...exudes a wicked sense of fun, which consistently shines through...This is a challenging show that makes good use of multimedia and educates as much as it entertains."
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"Is it a comedy gig? A hip hop gig? A neuroscience lecture? 'Baba Brinkman's Rap Guide To Consciousness' is all three. You may well walk out laughing, humming and wondering if you are a human being or a robot...The locquacious Canadian employs case studies in an attempt to clarify what consciousness is...Brinkman wittily weaves together accessible ideas and inventive rhymes...There is lots to take in...Not the world's coolest rapper, but he might be the funniest and most well-read."
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"His new show takes on the consciousness, the very mechanics of how our brain works...The material is strong and informative, and most importantly, Brinkman's raps are lyrical and amusing...He explores the effect he and his wife's consciousness had on their attraction to each other, relates Google's Deep Dream to the operation of our own minds, and ponders whether free will means anything with our increasing knowledge of how the brain works."
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"Baba Brinkman's intellectual rhymes are brilliant...A hip-hop sensation...Through a mixture of furious, fast-paced rapping and equally energetic explanations, Brinkman takes the audience on a mind-boggling journey...Brinkman's energy is boundless...keeping the audience engaged...There were times I found the show hard to follow, and that in turn detracted from the overall experience. You'd focus so hard on trying to catch what was said, you'd miss the next line."
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"Relevant, educational, and a huge amount of fun...Brinkman's dazzling lyrical skill is on full display. His flow is effortlessly fluent...Some formal flaws niggle. The structure feels spotty, as Brinkman struggles to tie the disparate topics together...At times, 'Rap Guide' feels more like a live hip hop album than a fully-fledged theatre piece...A consistently enjoyable and easily accessible intro to what, in less accomplished hands, could be a prohibitively esoteric topic."
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"Baba Brinkman is here to try to explain via some witty and informative rapping. Taking some pretty complex concepts, Brinkman breaks them down into understandable chunks, to give a flavour of the science behind what it means to be conscious, with a little help from some diagrams...Explores the different ways we experience the world around us, offering up some fascinating scientific findings. If you're looking for something a little different, Brinkman is well worth a visit."
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