HIST 216 : HIP HOP AND HISTORY (W)

Through our analysis of historical scholarship, in class discussions, and formal writing assignments this course uses hip hop lyrics to guide our analysis of U.S. history, from 1970. This course will examine the historical roots of emergence of hip hop culture that overlaps with the “War and Drugs” and mass incarceration, gender wars and new forms of activism. Inspired by W. E. B. DuBois’ use of the musical bars and lyrics of Negro Spirituals to introduce the chapters of his classic book The Souls of Black Folk, this course will introduce each course topic with hip hop lyrics—written by descendants of the singers of “sorrow songs” who continue to live beneath “the Veil.” Our analysis of hip hop lyrics and culture will address themes of oppression, power, identity, gender, politics and violence. Information presented in this course will lead to the analysis of the political economy of hip hop that includes racial commodification and cultural appropriation, hip hop masculinity and feminism, and perceptions of urban life in particular.