Hip Hop and Education

Hip hop and education have had a long, enduring, and complex relationship in the United States. As with all complex relationships, this one has not been without its share of conflict, controversy, and confusion. The main source of confusion has been due to a lack of cultural awareness on the part of educational institutions, which often do not possess the cultural framework and necessary background knowledge to interpret the complex verbal and artistic creativity that emanates from this diverse community of youth. As hip hop has spread from the largely Afrodiasporic, postindustrial urban ghettos of the United States to nearly every corner of the globe—in the process becoming a globally diverse youth social movement as well as a multibillion dollar industry—there is an ever-increasing need ...