Author Leon Neyfakh has a new book coming out from Melville House called The Next Next Level: A Story of Rap, Friendship, and Almost Giving Up.
To promote the title, which is half memoir, half profile of a little-known musician named Juiceboxxx, the former New York Observer reporter is running an excerpt on Genius.com, the annotation website that wants to “annotate the world.” Genius.com has run several book excerpts on its site through its Lit Genius vertical including selections from Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene.
“Basically, Juiceboxxx and I both annotated the excerpt with notes, clarifications, and interview material from the cutting room floor, and then did the same with the lyrics to Juice’s new album,” explains Neyfakh via email.
The book chronicles the life of the underground artist through Neyfakh’s eyes, who is both reporter and a long time devoted fan. It has gained praise from the likes of Lena Dunham, Chuck Klosterman and Sasha Frere-Jones.
You can read Juiceboxxx’s annotated lyrics from Heartland 99 at this link.