We asked QPL Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels to talk about Ben Horowitz’s new book What You Do Is Who You Are and his upcoming author event with Horowitz on Thursday, February 13 at Central Library.

Ben Horowitz’s new book What You Do Is Who You Are asks the question: What kind of culture or vibe does your company represent? Ben looks at business culture and uses examples from various cultural movements, the Haitian Revolution, and even prison life in his book.

While I read What You Do Is Who You Are, I thought about Ben’s love for Hip Hop, and the book reminds me of the early days of Def Jam Recordings.

Most Def Jam artists were edgy and controversial. That company’s staff were young people in jeans and hoodies; some were right off the street. They looked and talked just like their audience. Def Jam created a culture in business that was different from the traditional record companies before them, one that was very successful.

I’ll talk to Ben about companies like Def Jam, his thoughts on how young entrepreneurs can maximize their success and stay true to who they are, why he decided to donate 100 percent of the profits from his book to helping people who get out of jail stay out of jail and rebuilding Haiti, and much more. See you on February 13.