Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions! The Scholar Who Sees Literature in Sneakers, Hip-Hop, and Gaming | Dr. Jemayne King #43
"Sneaker culture literature is no different than any other form of literature." - Dr. Jemayne King
Jemayne, is creative, insightful, and VERY intentional. He is the founder of Sole Food Brand LLC, sole is spelled S.O.L.E which you will come to appreciate, and among many things, his company celebrates HBCUs (or Historically Black Colleges and Universities). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English/News Media from Elizabeth City State University, a Master of Arts in English-Literature from Virginia State University, and a PhD in English-Literary Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is currently an Associate Professor of English at Virginia State University.
Remember how I said creative and intentional? Jemayne is also the creator and Founding Director of the Virginia State University Institute of Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies, which includes a Hip-Hop Studies English minor, and the world’s first collegiate English course dedicated to Sneaker Culture literature and identification within Sneaker Culture. Yeah, I know right?
He is the author of Sole Food: Digestible Sneaker Culture and the forthcoming book titled The Big House on Flavian. It’s a bold and poetic exploration of memory, masculinity, and the mythology of America, viewed through the immersive lens of the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
In this engaging and enlightening episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward is in conversation with Dr. Jemayne LeVar King, an associate professor of English at Virginia State University and founder of Sole Food Brand, LLC. Together, they navigate a rich landscape of topics—including the intersection of sneaker culture and literature, the evolution of Southern hip-hop, and the profound narrative depth found in video games like Red Dead Redemption 2.
Dr. King discusses the significance of questions in both personal and academic growth, reveals the importance of authenticity in cultural participation, and offers profound insights into adapting educational curricula to meet the needs of future careers. This episode is a feast of ideas, seamlessly blending modern cultural phenomena with classical literary analysis.
Episode Notes
[02:06] Introducing Dr. Jemayne LeVar King
[04:00] The Power of Questions
[06:58] The Genesis of Sole Food Sneaker Culture Literature Class
[09:16] Reimagining Liberal Arts Education
[12:20] Southern Hip Hop and Literature
[14:43] The Rise of Southern Hip Hop
[21:49] Hip Hop's Influence on Society
[30:10] Sneaker Culture Origins
[32:35] Defining Retro in Sneaker Culture
[35:48] Authentic vs. Inauthentic Sneaker Culture
[40:01] Sneaker Culture as a Form of Expression
[46:11] Teaching Literature Through Sneaker Culture
[49:44] Sneaker Culture in Literature
[52:33] Authentic Subscriber Insights
[52:56] Sneaker Culture and Literature
[53:22] Connecting Literature to Modern Education
[55:01] Personal Academic Journey
[57:31] The Importance of Feeling Seen
[01:00:52] Gaming and Literature
[01:01:58] The Impact of Red Dead Redemption 2
[01:02:56] Literature in Video Games
[01:09:52] Rockstar Games and Detailed Narratives
[01:10:57] The Timeless Appeal of Rockstar Games
[01:12:32] The Complexity of Red Dead Redemption 2
[01:14:42] Replaying and Mastering the Game
[01:19:29] The Cost of Staying Small
[01:22:33] The Bird in the Cage Analogy
[01:25:06] Insights and Human Value
[01:29:47] Educational Adaptation and Future Jobs
[01:30:38] Supporting and Following Dr. Jemayne King
[01:32:02] Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Resources Mentioned
Virginia State University Institute of Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies
Sole Food: Digestible Sneaker Culture
The Big House on Flavian (available October 2025) by Dr. Jemayne King
Where'd You Get Those? New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 by Bobbito Garcia
Marshawn Lynch: I'm just here so I won't get fined
Post Cereals: Fruity Pebbles & Cocoa Pebbles
Legend of Zelda rap by Nintendo
Air Jordan Vindicate Vin Baker
Air Jordan Revolution/Air Jordan Three
Ha by Juvenile
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker
We Don't Have a Plan B by Redhead Kingpin
Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
Why isn't that considered academic when it's already been valued for its commercialization?
How do I explain Smith to someone who does not know about Smith?
How is it like Howard?
Does anyone have any ideas for any new courses?
Why did he ask that?
How do we not be archaic?
How do you show that a liberal arts education can get you from this point to where you want to be?
Do you think that that was the right question to be asking? And if it wasn't, would there have been a better question to be asking?
How do we create new classes?
What are they rapping about?
What do you think it took for the rest of the hip hop community to really see that there was something of value?
Was there a particular artist or a particular song?
How is it different between the different major regions?
Is it specifically just the individual themself, or these individuals that come up?
Is it their particular talent, that they just happen to be the one that can bring the rhymes ?
Is there an element of culture and a region that plays more of a role than just, 10% make up a small percentage or something like that?
Is that how it works, or is there more of a cultural, a higher percentage of cultural influence than the 10% that I'm throwing out?
What can we learn about questions from hip hop?
How does hip hop set a precedent for the rest of society?
What is masculinity?
How does hip hop set a precedent or open avenues for society?
How did sneakers capture your heart?
Why does this particular sneaker exist in this colorway for this particular purpose?
Why are you walking on the side?
Why are you adamant about not walking in grass?
What do you think is the foundation supporting the desire, the practice of collecting?
Inauthentic is concerned with how do I make a dollar out of this?
How are you using sneaker culture to teach literature?
What did I do wrong?
How do questions inform your latest work, The Big House on Flavin?
There's no need to buy that because when am I gonna play?
What is maturity?
What is masculinity?
How does the society fall?
What is literature?
What does literature represent?
Are there books about this game?
What happens to a dream deferred, right?
Can you help me?
Can you tie that together?
Is this a game that you would go back and play as well?
What is your right now question?
What is the cost of staying small?
What is the cost of not maturing?
What happens to a dream deferred?
Do we have all the right parts?
Is the budget set right for having those parts available?
Is the training appropriate for this?
Where is the best place for folks to track you down, learn about what you're excited about and support you?
What voices or artistic expressions are you unconsciously dismissing based on their origin?
How might your biases be preventing you from recognizing their actual quality?
In what areas of your life are you participating authentically versus simply consuming or commodifying, and what would deeper knowledge-based engagement look like?
What established systems in your field or organization need to evolve to remain relevant, and how can you maintain quality while embracing necessary change?
What opportunities for growth are you not seeing because you've become comfortable flying around the confines of your current situation?
What is the cost to you of never testing your full potential?