buzzz worthy. . .
NEW YORK -- Steve Stoute's acclaimed 2011 book, The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture that Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, is now available as an audiobook narrated by Scandal star Kerry Washington. A portion of the proceeds from the book, which presents an insider's view of how the transcendent power of popular culture is helping reinvigorate and revitalize the American dream, will go toward Washington's charity, the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
The Tanning of America serves as a pop culture anthology that chronicles the impact of hip-hop on the economy over the last thirty years. Stoute traces how the "tanning" phenomenon raised a generation that has the same mental complexion based on shared experiences and values, rather than the demographic boxes that have been used to a fault by corporate America. The Tanning of America provides a translation guide to bridge the language gap and , The Tanning of America: How Hip Hop Changed Us, which aired in February of 2014.
"I chose Kerry Washington to narrate The Tanning of America for the audio format because she represents a generation that pushed boundaries in order to be heard and respected," said Stoute. "Throughout her career, she has exemplified what it means to be an artist, a humanitarian, and a political activist. I'm honored she agreed to read the book and represent the values of tanning."
"I am honored to play a small role in bringing this important book to the world," said Washington. "By examining hip-hop through the lenses of ethnomusicology, marketing analysis, sociology and Stoute's own personal reflections as a cultural pioneer, The Tanning of America helps us to understand how the American dream has and continues to be redefined by the transformative forces of inclusivity and aspirational drive embodied in the journey of hip-hop and pop culture."
The Tanning of America audiobook is available on iTunes, Audible and everywhere audiobooks are sold.
About Steve Stoute: A powerful innovator in brand marketing, Steve Stoute has made a career out of identifying and activating a new generation of consumers to help Fortune 500 companies thrive in the world of popular culture. He is the founder and chief executive officer of the industry-leading marketing firm Translation, whose client roster includes iconic brands such as McDonald's, Anheuser-Busch InBev, State Farm, Target, Coca-Cola and Lady Gaga. In 2014, Stoute was recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, and in 2013, Advertising Age named him Executive of the Year. Much of Translation's work is based on Stoute's philosophy about the changing landscape of American culture and how people are all moving toward a shared mental complexion.
About Kerry Washington: A versatile, fearless, Emmy-nominated actress who continues to shine on both the big screen and small, Kerry Washington, a Bronx native, has received high acclaim for her work on stage, on television and on film. She currently stars in the hit ABC drama Scandal, a role for which she broke barriers by becoming the first African-American woman to headline a network television show since 1974. An activist as well as an actress, Washington was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Committee of the Arts and Humanities in 2009.