Hip Hop History and Culture, Part 1 – Spring 2022

Course Description

Hip Hop culture has changed the world!  Our quest towards Hip Hop cultural discovery will begin on the continent of Africa and walk the same steps of our ancestors as it has been expressed in Black music.  In this course will cover the history of Black music, religion, and resistance in America, the history of Hip Hop, the cultural, sociological, musicological, and religious manifestations in Hip Hop as well as the views and understandings of Hip Hop artists and critics.  It is hoped that this class will contribute to the growing research and discussion already taking place in and around many institutions of higher learning throughout the world.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course students will:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the history of the development of African music in the American context
2. Demonstrate a critical and informed understanding of how and why African American music has evolved
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the mutual connected influence of art, culture, politics, religion, history and economics
4. Understand and be able to critically examine the connectedness of African artistic expression in the American context and its infusion into Global society
5. Demonstrate an ability to conduct academic research using qualitative methods
6. Have insight into the history of the music industry