Will Straw teaches communications and cultural studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He is also co-investigator on an international project to study the culture of cities. Will is a former president of the Canadian Communications Association and he is currently developing a project he calls "Cities of Sin," which will deal with images of the city as a site of vice and lurid promise.

Dr. Todd Boyd's latest book is "Young, Black, Rich and Famous: The Rise of the NBA, the Hip Hop Invasion and the Transformation of American Culture." In it, he chronicles the recent history of the NBA, beginning in the early 70s, when African-American players began to dominate the game.

Todd Boyd is the author of five books, including The Death of Civil Rights and the Reign of Hip Hop and Am I Black Enough for You? He is Professor of Critical Studies at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television. He lives in Los Angeles but roots for the Pistons.