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Home · Culture

Forget Money Phones! Get Into The #BookPhoneChallenge

Rapper Lord Jamar's new viral challenge favors the literati over the gliterati
Forget Money Phones! Get Into The #BookPhoneChallenge
By Paula Rogo · Updated October 26, 2020

Jay-Z had the culture in an uproar last month when he attacked the infamous money phone stance in 4:44’s “The Story of O.J”.

“Y’all on the ‘Gram holding money to your ears/ There’s a disconnect, we don’t call that money over here,” he rapped.

Now Brand Nubian’s Lord Jamar is flipping the money phone idea on its head, urging people to hold a stack of books up to their ear instead of money. And just like that, the #bookphonechallenge was born.

On my BOOK PHONE...the KNOWLEDGE is callin!!!

A post shared by Lord Jamar Allah (@lordjamar) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:50am PDT

Lord Jamar started the new challenge in late July by posting a photo of himself holding a stack of books. He then added a video of himself talking on his “phone”

Y'all wanna make the BOOK PHONE a CHALLENGE???...Then make it happen!!! #bookphonechallenge

A post shared by Lord Jamar Allah (@lordjamar) on Jul 29, 2017 at 9:07am PDT

“On my BOOK PHONE…the KNOWLEDGE is callin!!!” he captioned the Instagram photo.

The challenge immediately went viral, being performed by kids and adults alike. Marley Dias, the 12-year old founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, posted her own version of the challenge.

Issa #bookphonechallenge 😏 I challenge @marsaisworld @yarashahidi and @martellusb 🌈 I want to see you all flexing on librarians👌🏾#1000blackgirlbooks

A post shared by Marley Dias (@iammarleydias) on Aug 1, 2017 at 5:11am PDT

Here are more challengers:

@jae_organics Have you heard of the #bookphonechallenge true fitness is knowledge, #survivalofthefittest

A post shared by Ebony Fitness Freaks (@ebonyfitfreaks) on Aug 2, 2017 at 5:13am PDT

New member @author_she_lives_ivoryjoseph and her little cutie with their version of the #bookphonechallenge #blackgirlbookgang 💪🏾💕 Remember to keep tagging us in your versions of the challenge and use our hashtag #blackgirlbookgang

A post shared by SamaiyahxJasmine (@booksxbrunch) on Aug 4, 2017 at 7:10am PDT

Challenge accepted 📚expand your mind with a book or several 📚#bookphonechallenge #blogger #blackswhoblog

A post shared by A L A Y N A 🌺 (@fashionlayn) on Aug 4, 2017 at 6:28am PDT

Have you done the challenge?

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