[a joint project by the CAAAS, Program in African & African American Studies, & Music Department]
We envision this conference / performance / exhibition series as a multifacted
and interactive venue that brings together academic interests, public performances
and community outreach around the art and politics of Hip Hop.
We will focus on a number of different but overlapping issues:
The Form of Hip Hop: How has Hip Hop developed musically and historically in the U.S. to become a prominent genre? What relationship is held between the different components of Hip Hop—graffiti, dress, rapping, sampling, Djing—and what shifts have occurred in all of these over time and with the increasing popularity as well as commericizliation of Hip Hop?
The Root/Routes of Hip Hop: What about race and nationality? While still considered an African American form, Hip Hop is extremely popular with diverse audiences both within the U.S. and outside on the global marketplace. In Asian countries like Japan, for example, Hip Hop is a fashionable trend with deeply engaged community of artists and fans. How does Hip Hop change meaning, form, and identity politics as it moves across national and ethnic boundaries? Does the transnationality of Hip Hop constitute a subcultural cosmopolitanism that rap to disenfranchised young peoples worldwide?
Gender & the Commodification of Hip Hop: What role is played by gender given the predominance of male rappers and artists and the misogynist lyrics Hip Hop is often accused of? What relation of style, culture, politics and industry have produced Hip Hop and how has Hip Hop been variously consumed and engaged by different audiences and at difference moments?
Our aim is to speak to multiple audiences with multiple media in this event. Rather than hosting academic speakers alone, we add to this: film viewings, performances, a photo exhibit, workshops, graffiti boards, open mikes, rapping competitions, breakdancing, and a panel discussion including DJs. We intend for this to be an event that will appeal to a wide range of students and faculty, as well as the Durham community.