Milkcrate Monologues

By: Ron Johnson Jr.

Narrated by: Ron Johnson Jr.

Length: 1 hr and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

In the Fall of 2013, the School of Arts and Culture in California debuted a new course — Hiphop Theatre. The students were surprised to find parallels between modern Hiphop music and classic theatre plays by William Shakespeare.

Rap and Hiphop music, just like any other music, is a form of art. It is also the go-to form of expression for the marginalized members of our society. The Milkcrate Monologues is an exercise in expertly blending Hiphop and theatre, turning the trademark milkcrate of vinyl records on its head and converting it to a platform for young people to find their own voices.

This book contains a set of Hiphop monologues for theatre written by recording artist, performer, and producer, Ron Johnson Jr., known in the music scene as Philasifer. The powerful monologues are meant for auditions, arts education, and performance, giving actors an understanding of the themes, emotion, circumstance, and vibes that create Hiphop.

The flexibility of these speeches is that they can be done solo or with a few actors. This gives dramatists and performers alike the opportunity to incorporate vignettes and push the envelope theatrically. Conversely, that flexibility also creates the opportunity to be performed as stand-alone pieces.

The Milkcrate Monologues are all about the word and the experience that is Hiphop culture. However they are practiced or performed, their ultimate goal is to move past the concept of rap in theatre, instead, creating something all its own.

©2015 Ron Johnson Jr. (P)2021 Ron Johnson Jr.

intellectual, short and sweet

listening to these monologues makes me wish there was more, I appreciate the commentary tracks after each monologue to show who and what inspired them. I hope Ron makes a vol.2

Review of Ron Johnson's Milkcrate monologues.

This was the most unique, comprehensive, and compelling podcast I have ever heard on this subject.
Thank You Ron. Keep up the good work.

Engaging, elevating & playful

Whether you’re coming to this book for a deep dive into an exciting weaving of Hip Hop & theatre (& it’s accessible whether you’re versed in either!) into its own new shape, opportunities to find new monologues as an actor, or for a deep spiritual reflection on how you’re showing up in the world, Milkcrate Monologues will have you talking back to its author Ron Johnson Jr. I experienced as created from a male perspective, so overall would recommend for BIPOC males if looking for monologues as an actor, but I think many of the pieces can also transcend gender, & women & trans actors could utilize the pieces, too. Highly recommend.