Books '', published by
Random House in 2013 Asante is the author of five books, most notably
Buck: A Memoir, a 2013 memoir about his turbulent youth in
Philadelphia.
Buck was selected as a
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, and was named to
The Washington Posts bestseller list in 2014 and 2015. It was included on the
In the Margins Book List in 2014. Poet
Maya Angelou, who mentored Asante, described
Buck as "a story of surviving and thriving with passion, compassion, wit, and style." '', published by
HarperCollins /
Amistad Press in 2024
Publishers Weekly announced that Asante's second memoir,
Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony, would be published by
HarperCollins /
Amistad Press with an on-sale date of May 21, 2024. Reviewing
Nephew,
Kirkus Reviews wrote: “This innovative memoir offers provocative commentary on how Black Americans have sung—and might yet sing—their paths to freedom. Passionate, moving, spirited reflections on art’s therapeutic potency.”
Library Journal gave
Nephew a starred review, stating: "This poignant memoir about overcoming devastating odds is a treasure and likely to become a classic. Essential reading for deepening understanding of society, the world, familial relationships, and the meaning of art and life."
Films Asante is a
Sundance Institute Feature Film Fellow for the movie adaptation of his memoir
Buck. He wrote and produced the 2005 documentary
500 Years Later, a documentary about slavery which received the Breaking the Chains Award from
UNESCO. Asante directed and produced
The Black Candle (2012), a documentary about
Kwanzaa, co-written and narrated by
Maya Angelou. He co-wrote the broadcast opening short films for the 2021
NBA Finals on ABC directed by
Spike Lee.
Lectures and essays Asante has delivered Distinguished Lectures at
Yale University,
Vanderbilt University, and
Southern Methodist University. He has delivered commencement addresses at
UCLA,
University of Wisconsin,
Arizona State University,
Vassar College,
Lafayette College, and
Harvard University. He is featured in
Changing America: 1968 and Beyond, a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's
National Museum of African American History and Culture. He has written essays on art, hip hop, technology, and culture for
USA Today,
The Huffington Post,
San Francisco Chronicle, and
The New York Times.
Music Asante is featured on the song "Bangers", along with Halo, from the album
Indie 500 by
Talib Kweli and
9th Wonder. In their review of the album,
Pitchfork noted that "Asante captures the vibe nicely." Asante is the founder of Wonderful Sound Studios. As a songwriter, he wrote the lyrics for the 2023-'24, 2024-'25, and 2025-'26 official
Monday Night Football anthem, "In the Air Tonight", a cover of the
song of the same name by
Phil Collins, performed by
Snoop Dogg,
Chris Stapleton, and
Cindy Blackman Santana. ==Academia==