“The Kalamazoo Promise wasn’t just a big idea about the new economics of education; the hope wasn’t just to send more kids to college — but to turn around an entire town.” Like many American cities, Kalamazoo was facing hard times. So a group of donors got together and came up with a plan. If you attended Kalamazoo school from Kindergarten, an anonymous group would foot the bill for your college education. That was nine years ago. Politico Magazine takes us back to Kalamazoo to find out whether free college can save American cities.

+ Inside a beatmaker’s Harvard class on Hip Hop.

+ Another question for those interested in urban studies: Is Brooklyn the new Manhattan? (And if so, am I trimming my beard correctly?)